We are delighted to have been granted the opportunity to speak with Oliver Gavin about his time with Corvette Racing, his motor sport career, his future ambitions and just he does when he is not on track.

OLIVER GAVIN INTERVIEW

Firstly, thank you for taking time out to answer some questions for your British fans.
That’s no problem. Although most of my racing happens in the US, I am really grateful for all the support I receive in the UK and Europe.

You have just completed the first round of the 2008 ALMS and congratulations on your second in class, but no doubt you'll be frustrated at the halfshaft failure? 
For sure. We had a really good car for the race and Olivier, Max and I all drove well. We’ve never had a failure of this particular type before so it has helped us learn a bit more about the car. As last year, our focus is on Le Mans and the ALMS helps us to prepare for that. It’s frustrating to lose the time at Sebring but it helps us to plan better for Le Mans.

Had the problem not occurred, it no doubt would have been a great 12-hour battle with the No.3 Corvette, do you feel you could have taken the victory given Johnny, Ron & Jan ran what appears to be a faultless race? 
Who knows, to win at Sebring everything has to run perfectly, the team and the car, and this year it was No.3’s turn for everything to go right.

Photo used with permission

Is the C6-R essentially the same as the 2007 season Corvette?
The main difference is our plan to run a different fuel in the ALMS. In 2008 we will be using E85 Ethanol as opposed to the E10 Ethanol used by all the other ‘petrol’ runners. Otherwise the car is essentially the same.

Are there any new developments coming along during the season? 
Corvette Racing are always looking for new developments and enhancements to improve the performance of the car, it’s a constantly moving target!

How would you like to see Corvette Racing as a team develop in 2008 and beyond? 
Everyone in the team wants to keep racing and keep moving forward. We’ve had a lot of success in GT1 and whether the future for the team is in GT1, GT2 or LMP1, I know that we’ll all be fighting for more success. I’m just the driver and am happy to compete in whatever class. There are lots of options being considered at the moment and the decisions made over the next few months will shape the future of Corvette Racing over the next few years.

Looking back, like many, you started out in karting, did you race internationally at that level? 
Yes, I competed in two Junior World Championships. The first one, at Laval, was won by Jan Magnussen and it seems strange now that we are driving together in the same team. That year there were many drivers competing who went on to success in cars including David Coulthard, Dario Franchitti and Christian Fittipaldi. Most of them were driving for works teams whereas my father was running me, based out of the back of a van! The second was at Pomposa and I remember that the competitors included Jan, Giancarlo Fisichella and Jarno Trulli!

At that early age, were you set on becoming a professional racing driver? 
I was hoping and dreaming that one day I could make it to the professional ranks but I was realistic enough to know that it would be hard to achieve.

You clearly made a big impact in the British National Formula First Championship, what was it like to then be voted McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year? 
Awesome! Going into the competition I was unsure of my chances of winning. I knew that there were 6 of us so I figured I had at least a 1 in 6 chance! But being presented with the trophy by Ayrton Senna was just the best. I have a photo of myself that night sat in the McLaren F1 car with Ayrton Senna on one side and Stirling Moss on the other and it has pride of place at home.

Were you in awe of Ayrton Senna when he presented you with your award?
Absolutely - see above!!

Who were your inspirations at that early age? 
Well Ayrton Senna was a major inspiration! Like most young drivers I dreamed of getting to F1 and dreamed of racing in Grand Prix.

Were your sights set on F1? 
Yes, see above.

You tested for the Benetton and Renault Formula 1 teams, did you enjoy your time with them? 
Enormously. You cannot really describe driving a Formula 1 car, it is like nothing else and I feel so privileged to have been given the chance to do so. I still occasionally get a call from the Renault test team to help with a shakedown or aero test and jump at the opportunity!

In 2001, you broke into the ALMS with Saleen, how did that come about? 
I decided in 2000 to abandon my single seater ambitions and some friends at Lola suggested I go to the States to seek out some drives. I was introduced to Jon Field who was running a Lola in Grand Am at the time and we enjoyed some success together, finishing 2nd overall at Watkins Glen. On the back of that Steve Saleen approached me to drive the new S7R in 2001.

You moved to Corvette a year later, who approached who? 
I was again doing some Grand Am races with Jon Field and at Watkins Glen Ron Fellows presented the trophies. He asked me what my plans were for 2002 and I said that I hadn’t any. He suggested I talk to Doug Fehan as there may be something at Corvette and the rest is history ………..

Photo used with permission

Do you have strong memories of your first race for Corvette in 2002? 
Yes, as always at Sebring it was hot and loud with vibrations to really shake you up. It was very hard work and we won!

What would be considered the highlight(s) of your career since joining Corvette? 
It has to be our four victories at Le Mans, but especially 2005 and 2006. It needed an amazing effort by the whole team to beat the Aston Martins.

Does your personal career highlight differ to the above? 
There are a number of career highlights for me in addition to the four victories at Le Mans. The McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year has to be one, as does the British F3 Championship. Also, the F1 testing that I have been lucky enough to be involved with!

Any low points along the way, perhaps Le Mans 2007, that must have been frustrating? 
Yes, 2007 Le Mans was a low point. We had high hopes for the race and to go out so early on was very frustrating. Other low points and disappointments include finishing only second at Le Mans in 2003, crashing out at Mosport in 2003 and at Sebring in 2004 when driving out of the pitlane with a cooked clutch!

Having won Le Mans 4 times in GTS/GT1, have you been tempted to move to LMP1? 
Of course I would love to be fighting for overall victory but one of the most important aspects of endurance racing is the team you are driving for. I don’t think I could drive for a more professional and better managed team than Corvette racing and, as a result, I have been very happy to continue to drive for them in the ALMS and at Le Mans.

Would you like to see a Corvette LMP1 entry? 
Yes of course, I could think of nothing better than competing for overall honours with such a brilliant team.

Given the recent lack of opposition in ALMS, how intense is the rivalry between No.3 & 4 and do you have money riding on it!? 
The rivalry is certainly intense but very friendly at the same time. We share information with each other and work together for the overall aim of a Corvette victory. However, the two crews work hard to make sure that it is their car that comes out on top! You can see that in the annual ALMS pit stop challenge competitions! I don’t have a wager with anyone in the team, the only person I have had a bet with is Aston Martin boss George Howard-Chappell at Le Mans and I’m well ahead on that one!!

Your appearances in Europe have increased recently with Luc Alphand Aventures. Are there any significant differences between racing for a Corvette Racing and then switching to a privately entered team?
Obviously a privateer team does not have the resources of a works team so there are some things that are just not available. Having said that, I am very familiar with the cars and that more than compensates. The language is the only other difference but I have learned some French and have a few people around me who speak both languages, including Olivier of course, so there is always someone who can help!

You'll be running the London Marathon again this year for a very good cause and we wish you every success with that. Given your training for ALMS, Le Mans etc, does it require any additional fitness element to be added to your training schedule? 
I do a lot of training anyway in the gym, on a bike and running, as I firmly believe that my fitness is critical to my driving. I guess the only difference is that I do a bit more running mileage in the few weeks before a marathon.

Can you really take around 30 minutes off your 2002 time? 
Well we’ll see …….. It is looking a little more challenging at the moment as a small injury has kept me off the roads for a few days, but I think my overall fitness is better than it was in 2002. It’s good to have a target but my main aim is to finish and raise as much money as I can for the charity.

Finally, some quick fire questions. 
Do you follow any sports team either in the UK or North America? 
I sort of follow Tottenham Hotspur in the Premiership but I wouldn’t say I was a fanatic. I also keep an eye on the England Cricket Team who seem to be doing a little better in New Zealand at the moment.

What music do you enjoy listening to? 
A very wide range from Coldplay to Indy Rock to just about anything.

How do you like to relax when not racing?
When I’m not racing most of the time is spent with my family and sorting our house out!

Favourite Holiday destination? 
Mauritius.

Do you own a Corvette in England or what do you drive? 
I drive a Vauxhall MPV – unfortunately you can’t get three children into a Corvette!

Finally, what is your greatest ambition? 
To win Le Mans overall!

Photo used with permission - Lastturnclub.com