Successful Corvette C5-R driver, Andy Pilgrim, Lead’s Corvette’s 50th Anniversary in 2003. This article gives some history of this famous race car driver.
In this series of blog posts, we are looking at the 2003 Corvette Press Kit given by Chevrolet to automotive media for the 50th Anniversary Celebration in Nashville, TN on June 27 & 28, 2003. This kit included fourteen Press Releases. We are looking at the one entitled Racer Andy Pilgrim Selected for Corvette’s 50th Anniversary Role.
You can take a look at photos and details about the press kit at this link CLICK HERE.
This photo of Andy Pilgrim was included in the 2003 Corvette media kit.
Successful Corvette C5-R driver, Andy Pilgrim leads Corvette’s 50th Anniversary
DETROIT – Andy Pilgrim, who was previously teamed with Kelly Collins in the No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette C5-R, has been selected to be the Corvette Racing 50th Anniversary Program Representative.
In this new role, Pilgrim will interact with the considerable Corvette dealer base, the Corvette Museum, Corvette clubs, and special GM-organized functions, which will celebrate the 50th anniversary on a national level. In addition, Pilgrim will continue to drive in the endurance race with Corvette Racing, the two-time defending 24-Hour of Le Mans and American Le Mans Series (ALMS) GTS Champion.
“Andy has a direct and extremely strong connection with our dealer and customer base,” said Gary Claudio, GM Racing, manager of Motorsports Marketing. “There are several key events that Andy will play a critical role in, which will conflict with a few dates on the race schedule. Andy will adjust his driving schedule slightly to fulfill a larger role in the overall celebration of the Corvette.”
British driver Oliver Gavin will join Collins in the No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette for all of the races in 2003. Pilgrim will join the No. 4 team for the seven endurance events in 2003. Gavin had teamed with GTS Champion Ron Fellows and runner-up Johnny O’Connell in the No. 3 Corvette C5-R last year during the endurance races. The final adjustment in the Corvette Racing lineup in 2003 will move Frenchman Franck Freon from the No. 4 car to the No. 3 car joining Fellows and O’Connell during the endurance races.
Pilgrim and Collins provided two wins in the ALMS in 2002 and finished second in GTS in Le Mans with Freon. Pilgrim and Collins tied for third in the GTS Driver Championship in 2002.
The Corvette C5-R is a production-based race car and is part of GM’s commitment to improving the breed by integrating racing developments into production vehicles. GM Racing engineers work closely with production engineers to ensure that the street version of the Chevrolet retains the crown of “America’s Performance Icon,” in 2003 and beyond.
General Motors (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest vehicle manufacturer, designs, builds and markets cars and trucks worldwide, and has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.
For a look at the 2003 Corvette Press Kit CLICK HERE
For a look at the 2003 Corvette Press Kit CLICK HERE
Here are the links to the press releases included in the 2003 Corvette 50th Anniversary Celebration (there were 14 press releases in all)
Corvette 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2003
Racer Andy Pilgrim Lead’s Corvette’s 50th Anniversary in 2003
C5-R Corvette Ready for 24 Hours of Le Mans (2003)
2004 Corvette Product Information
History of Corvette Design Engineering – 50s-90s
Corvette Powertrain History 50-Years of Development
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