Stevenson Motorsports might be leaving the Camaro - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

BaylorCamaro · 11-12-2015, 04:07 PM

Per this press release today, Stevenson will be racing the Audi R8 in the GTD class in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (formerly Tudor Championship). The release doesn't say they are leaving GS class in Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge but the release talks about Mike Hoffman (team manager) and Mike Johnson (strategy) who were with the Camaros last year and to me that says they will be moving away from the Camaro and to the R8.

Quote:

Jacksonville, North Carolina (12 November 2015) – 2015 IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge champions Stevenson Motorsports announced today that the team will return to the top level of IMSA competition with a two-car GTD Class campaign. The 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD category will follow a new set of technical specifications, and the team will utilize the new Audi R8 LMS platform.

Stevenson Motorsports earned 17 GT Class victories in GRAND-AM before moving to concentrate exclusively on the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge following the merging of the United SportsCar Championship. That focus was well-rewarded as the team capped off the 2015 season not only with the championship title, but also netting the 30th race victory for the organization.

Team owner Johnny Stevenson first raced in the GT class ranks in 2003, earning a podium at Watkins Glen. Since moving to the other side of the pit wall, his team has thrived on the continuity that Stevenson has built with a strong group of talented staff.

“This is very exciting news for us as a team, and I think that there will be a very high level of competition in the WeatherTech GTD class next year,” said Stevenson. “It was very gratifying to clinch the Continental Tire championship with the Camaro last year and now we will look for those kinds of results in GTD. We’ve got some outstanding drivers, and Mike Hoffman (team manager) and Mike Johnson (strategy) do a fabulous job for us so I am happy to have everything in place so we can focus on coming out of the gate strongly at Daytona.”

With support from Audi Sport customer racing, Stevenson Motorsports will make its first official outing with the Audi R8 at the Roar Before the 24 test at Daytona International Speedway in January.

http://www.stevensonmotorsports.com/...?ContentId=129

Shark72 · 11-12-2015, 04:26 PM

I hope not, they make up a incredible race team! That would be big loss for Chevrolet.

Mikamaro · 11-12-2015, 04:34 PM

hummm.. :(

BaylorCamaro · 11-12-2015, 08:33 PM

It's official, they're done with the Camaro and will be pulling out of GS class.

From their Facebook Page:

Quote:

Thank you everyone for all the responses to the big news!
We will be focusing on the WeatherTech championship exclusively in 2016, with no Continental Tire GS program. We are thankful for not only our fans, but also for our relationship with Chevrolet and General Motors. It was indeed a championship-caliber one! Hopefully we get the opportunity to work together again in the future.
Thank you all and stay tuned. We still have many exciting announcements to come!

ZED SLED · 11-13-2015, 06:41 AM

Well that sucks. Likely someone else will buy and field the cars like Mantella did with CKS last year. If not, that puts the nail in the coffin of my Watkins Glen Camaro Corral.

BaylorCamaro · 11-13-2015, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZED SLED

Well that sucks. Likely someone else will buy and field the cars like Mantella did with CKS last year. If not, that puts the nail in the coffin of my Watkins Glen Camaro Corral.

There will definitely be Z/28.R's, I'm sure Mantella will stick with them and I wouldn't be surprised if another team picks up Stevenson's old cars. However Stevenson not only had really talented drivers but their pit crew and racing manager / strategist was really good as well.

Mikamaro · 11-13-2015, 09:27 AM

I wouldn't bet on Mantella..they are seliing their Z28R's...

ZED SLED · 11-13-2015, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikamaro

I wouldn't bet on Mantella..they are seliing their Z28R's...

I'm guessing they all have had enough of Chevrolet's lack of commitment in the CTSCC series. It was the came with the corral. Got to the point where we got no support from Chevy, but if you had a Corvette, they couldn't hit their knees in front of you fast enough. Then again, IMSA was a big part of the problem in that series too. Gonna miss Stevenson and Mantella. They did a lot for us and really appreciated our support.

*mlee* · 11-13-2015, 11:52 AM

Damn that sucks!!!

But at least they go out on top!!!

red_riot · 11-15-2015, 01:37 AM

This is huge loss. Steveonson's did such a great job representing the Camaro.

I don't expect Mantella to continue with the z28R. They complained about restrictions and inherent disadvantages of the Camaro the entire season. Their performance was underwhelming anyways.

Shark72 · 11-15-2015, 10:16 AM

The Continental Tire series won't be the same without them.
I guess we will just have to wait until the Gen 6.R arrives!
Until then.......I love this picture!

Lonewolf583 · 12-07-2015, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red_riot

This is huge loss. Steveonson's did such a great job representing the Camaro.

I don't expect Mantella to continue with the z28R. They complained about restrictions and inherent disadvantages of the Camaro the entire season. Their performance was underwhelming anyways.

Yeah...the Stevenson effort was awesome. Mantella however...they can't expect to jump into a Z28.R and have the same level of success.

Like Mikamaro said they're for sale if anyone wants to group buy and go dominate NASA

LINK: http://www.racingjunk.com/GT/1825675...-CTSCC-GS.html

Z/28Dan · 12-18-2015, 09:42 PM

Mantella's Z's are for sale:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-Ca...m=111852635106

SILVER BULLET RS · 07-06-2016, 11:17 PM

Well your not going to believe this but, i went to the IMSA race at Watkins Glen this past Saturday and i talked to one of the Stevenson Audi R8 crew members! I asked him why they dropped the Camaros for the Audi R8 , he told me that IMSA told them they had to stop racing the Camaros because they were totally dominating the rest of the GS class and that made IMSA very concerned! IMSA did not want the sponsors of the european exotics pulling out their money from the Porsche , Lamborghini , Aston Martin and Audi teams because the Chevy Camaros was totally embarrassing them on the track! This would not make IMSA an International manufacturer race anymore , so they had to ban the Camaros immediately! He told me they still have all 4 Camaro Z28R cars in Carolina and they hope someday they will be able to race them again!

11-12-2015, 04:26 PM	#2
Shark72 Drives: '16 Z06/Z07, '15 Z/28,1972 Stingray Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Drivers Seat Posts: 837	I hope not, they make up a incredible race team! That would be big loss for Chevrolet. __________________ 2015 Z/28 #642 Black Bad Ass

11-12-2015, 04:34 PM	#3
Mikamaro MikeNoMaro Drives: A 2016 Challenger R/T M6 STP Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: America Posts: 2,375 View My Garage	hummm.. :( __________________ Track Day Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/mrgoodman2000/videos Built #83817, Born January 18th, Christened June 11th 2010, Stolen October 3rd 2016.

11-13-2015, 06:41 AM	#5
ZED SLED Drives: 2017 Mosaic Bk ZL1 M6 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South of Raleigh, NC Posts: 9,477 View My Garage	Well that sucks. Likely someone else will buy and field the cars like Mantella did with CKS last year. If not, that puts the nail in the coffin of my Watkins Glen Camaro Corral. __________________

11-13-2015, 09:27 AM	#7
Mikamaro MikeNoMaro Drives: A 2016 Challenger R/T M6 STP Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: America Posts: 2,375 View My Garage	I wouldn't bet on Mantella..they are seliing their Z28R's... __________________ Track Day Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/mrgoodman2000/videos Built #83817, Born January 18th, Christened June 11th 2010, Stolen October 3rd 2016.

11-13-2015, 11:52 AM	#9
mlee CamaroFans.com Drives: ZLE & ZR2 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 37,497 View My Garage	Damn that sucks!!! But at least they go out on top!!! __________________

11-15-2015, 01:37 AM	#10
red_riot Drives: Track Camaro Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Sacramento Posts: 34	This is huge loss. Steveonson's did such a great job representing the Camaro. I don't expect Mantella to continue with the z28R. They complained about restrictions and inherent disadvantages of the Camaro the entire season. Their performance was underwhelming anyways.

11-15-2015, 10:16 AM	#11
Shark72 Drives: '16 Z06/Z07, '15 Z/28,1972 Stingray Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Drivers Seat Posts: 837	The Continental Tire series won't be the same without them. I guess we will just have to wait until the Gen 6.R arrives! Until then.......I love this picture! Attached Images __________________ 2015 Z/28 #642 Black Bad Ass

12-18-2015, 09:42 PM	#13
Z/28Dan Drives: 2013 HWSE Indy Festial #26 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Posts: 2,670 View My Garage	Mantella's Z's are for sale: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-Ca...m=111852635106 __________________ There are only so many days in your lifetime. So get out and drive your Camaro... Dan

07-06-2016, 11:17 PM	#14
SILVER BULLET RS Drives: 2012 Black Synergy Camaro SS Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Rochester , new york Posts: 41	Well your not going to believe this but, i went to the IMSA race at Watkins Glen this past Saturday and i talked to one of the Stevenson Audi R8 crew members! I asked him why they dropped the Camaros for the Audi R8 , he told me that IMSA told them they had to stop racing the Camaros because they were totally dominating the rest of the GS class and that made IMSA very concerned! IMSA did not want the sponsors of the european exotics pulling out their money from the Porsche , Lamborghini , Aston Martin and Audi teams because the Chevy Camaros was totally embarrassing them on the track! This would not make IMSA an International manufacturer race anymore , so they had to ban the Camaros immediately! He told me they still have all 4 Camaro Z28R cars in Carolina and they hope someday they will be able to race them again!