Oliver Benjamin Gavin (born 29 September 1972)[1] is a British racing driver who joined Corvette Racing in 2002. He has won five American Le Mans Series class championships, five 24 Hours of Le Mans class wins, five 12 Hours of Sebring class wins and five Petit Le Mans class wins.

Oliver Gavin
Gavin in 2009
NationalityUnited Kingdom British
Born (1972-09-29) 29 September 1972 (age 51)
Huntingdon, England
Racing licence FIA Gold
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years20012019
TeamsSaleen-Allen Speedlab, Corvette Racing
Best finish4th overall (2006)
Class wins5 (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2015)

Biography edit

He was raised in the village of Felmersham, Bedfordshire. He attended the local Primary school, Pinchmill. At age nine he attended Lincroft Middle School and then took his GCSEs and A-levels at Sharnbrook Upper School and Community College.

 
Gavin won the British F3 championship in 1995 whilst driving for the Edenbridge Racing team.
 
2011 Rolex Sports Car

Born in Huntingdon, Gavin was introduced to motor racing through the traditional karting route. After finishing as runner-up in the 1993 British F3 series to Kelvin Burt, Gavin graduated to Formula 3000 in 1994 with Omegaland. He failed to score any points in the five races he contested, and subsequently opted to drop back down to F3 for 1995. He managed to overcome rival Ralph Firman in the final round to snatch the title.

He was test driver for the ill-fated mid-1990s Pacific Grand Prix team. It was proposed that he would drive for the team in the 1995 Australian Grand Prix, but he was not granted the required FIA Super Licence.[2] Gavin also drove the Safety Car from 1997 to 1999 for the Formula One championship.[2]

Gavin became a Corvette Racing factory driver in 2002, having raced full-time in the American Le Mans Series GT1 and GT2 classes and currently the IMSA SportsCar Championship GTLM class. His full-time codrivers have been Olivier Beretta (2004-2010), Jan Magnussen (2010-2011) and Tommy Milner (since 2012), whereas Max Papis, Richard Westbrook and Jordan Taylor have been his endurance codrivers.

He has won his class in Le Mans on five occasions (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2015),[3] the 12 Hours of Sebring five times (2001, 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2013), and Petit Le Mans another five times (2002, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2010). Also, he won the ALMS GT1 titles in 2005, 2006 and 2007, plus the GT2 title in 2012.

Gavin announced his retirement from professional racing on 31 October 2020,[4] with the 2021 WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps being his final race. He placed 4th in the GTE Pro class with co-driver, Antonio Garcia, and 18th overall.[5]

Gavin lives in a village east of Northampton with his wife, Helen, and their three children.[1] He announced on April 29, 2021 via Twitter[6] that he will be continuing his working relationship with Chevrolet with the formation of a new racing school, the Oliver Gavin Driving Academy, featuring Corvette C8 Stingrays as the primary instructional vehicle.[7]

Racing record edit

Complete International Formula 3000 results edit

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pos. Pts
1994 Omegaland Lola T94/50 Zytek-Judd SIL
10
PAU
DNQ
CAT
Ret
PER
Ret
NC 0
Nordic Racing Ford Cosworth HOC
DNS
SPA EST MAG
1997 BSE Salisbury Engineering Lola T96/50 Zytek-Judd SIL
DNQ
PAU
DNQ
HEL
DNQ
NÜR PER HOC A1R SPA MUG JER NC 0
1999 European Edenbridge Racing Lola T99/50 Zytek IMO
12
MON
4
CAT
DNQ
MAG
DNQ
SIL
14
A1R
DNQ
HOC
DNQ
HUN
DNQ
SPA
9
NÜR
8
16th 3
Sources:[8][9]

Complete International Touring Car Championship results edit

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Pos. Pts
1996 Joest Racing Opel Opel Calibra V6 4x4 HOC
1

Ret
HOC
2

DNS
NÜR
1

14
NÜR
2

Ret
EST
1

6
EST
2

6
HEL
1

10†
HEL
2

Ret
NOR
1

10
NOR
2

12
DIE
1

17
DIE
2

9
SIL
1

11
SIL
2

Ret
NÜR
1

16
NÜR
2

Ret
MAG
1

12
MAG
2

15
MUG
1

17
MUG
2

Ret
HOC
1
HOC
2
INT
1

11
INT
2

15
SUZ
1

16
SUZ
2

11
23rd 16
Sources:[9][10]
  • † — Retired, but was classified as he completed 90% of the winner's race distance.

American Le Mans Series results edit

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos. Points Ref
2000 Intersport Racing LMP Lola B2K/10 Judd GV4 4.0L V10 SEB CHA SIL NÜR SON MOS TEX ROS PET

DNF

MON LSV ADE [11]
2001 Konrad Team Saleen GTS Saleen S7-R Ford 7.0L V8 TEX SEB

1

DON

2

JAR SON POR MOS MID MON [12]
Park Place Racing

Fordahl Motorsports

PET

4

2002 Corvette Racing GTS Chevrolet Corvette C5-R Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 SEB

1

SON MID AME

2

WAS TRO MOS MON MIA PET

1

[13]
2003 Corvette Racing GTS Chevrolet Corvette C5-R Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 SEB

3†

ATL

1

SON

2

TRO

1

MOS

DNF

AME

5

MON

3

MIA

DNS

PET

3

[14]
2004 Corvette Racing GTS Chevrolet Corvette C5-R Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 SEB

DNF

MDO

2

LRP

1

SON

3

POR

2

MOS

1

ELK

1

PET

1

LAG

2

[15]
2005 Corvette Racing GT1 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R Chevrolet LS7.R 7.0 L V8 SEB

3

ATL

2

MID

2

LIM

1

SON

2

POR

1

AME

1

MOS

1

PET

1

MON

1

[16]
2006 Corvette Racing GT1 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R Chevrolet LS7.R 7.0 L V8 SEB

1

TEX

1

MID

1

LIM

4

UTA

4

POR

1

AME

2

MOS

2

PET

3

MON

2

1st 176 [17]
2007 Corvette Racing GT1 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R Chevrolet LS7.R 7.0 L V8 SEB

1

STP

1

LNB

1

TEX

2

UTA

1

LIM

1

MID

1

AME

1

MOS

2

DET

2

PET

1

MON

1

1st 246 [18]
2008 Corvette Racing GT1 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R Chevrolet LS7.R 7.0 L V8 SEB

2

STP

1

LBH

2

UTA

2

LRP

2†

MDO

2

ELK

3†

MOS

2

DET

1

PET

2

LAG

1

3rd 215 [19]
2009 Corvette Racing GT1 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R Chevrolet LS7.R 7.0 L V8 SEB

2

STP LBH

1

UTA LRP NC - [20]
GT2 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 MDO

4

ELK

6

MOS

3

PET

4

LAG

10

16th 55
2010 Corvette Racing GT Chevrolet Corvette C6.R Chevrolet 5.5 L V8 SEB

9

LBH

9

LAG

3

UTA

10

LRP

5

MDO

2

ELK

3

MOS

4

PET

1

5th 110 [21]
2011 Corvette Racing GT Chevrolet Corvette C6.R Chevrolet 5.5 L V8 SEB

4

LBH

2

LRP

10

MOS

1

MDO

2

ELK

5

BAL

3

LAG

5

PET

4

2nd 135 [22]
2012 Corvette Racing GT Chevrolet Corvette C6.R Chevrolet 5.5 L V8 SEB

3

LBH

1

LAG

1

LRP

3

MOS

10

MDO

1

ELK

4

BAL

2

VIR

1

PET

12

1st 146 [23]
2013 Corvette Racing GT Chevrolet Corvette C6.R Chevrolet 5.5 L V8 SEB

1

LBH

4

LAG

9

LRP

6

MOS

1

ELK

3

BAL

2

COA

DNF

VIR

6

PET

10

3rd 105 [24]

Did not finish the race but was classified as his car completed more than 70% of the overall winner's race distance.

24 Hours of Le Mans results edit

Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
pos.
2001   Saleen-Allen Speedlab   Franz Konrad
  Terry Borcheller
Saleen S7-R GTS 246 18th 3rd
2002   Corvette Racing   Ron Fellows
  Johnny O'Connell
Chevrolet Corvette C5-R GTS 335 11th 1st
2003   Corvette Racing   Kelly Collins
  Andy Pilgrim
Chevrolet Corvette C5-R GTS 326 11th 3rd
2004   Corvette Racing   Olivier Beretta
  Jan Magnussen
Chevrolet Corvette C5-R GTS 345 6th 1st
2005   Corvette Racing   Olivier Beretta
  Jan Magnussen
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R GT1 349 5th 1st
2006   Corvette Racing   Olivier Beretta
  Jan Magnussen
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R GT1 355 4th 1st
2007   Corvette Racing   Olivier Beretta
  Max Papis
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R GT1 22 DNF DNF
2008   Corvette Racing   Olivier Beretta
  Max Papis
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R GT1 341 15th 3rd
2009   Corvette Racing   Olivier Beretta
  Marcel Fässler
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R GT1 311 DNF DNF
2010   Corvette Racing   Olivier Beretta
  Emmanuel Collard
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R GT2 255 DNF DNF
2011   Corvette Racing   Richard Westbrook
  Jan Magnussen
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R GTE
Pro
211 DNF DNF
2012   Corvette Racing   Richard Westbrook
  Tommy Milner
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R GTE
Pro
215 NC NC
2013   Corvette Racing   Richard Westbrook
  Tommy Milner
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R GTE
Pro
309 22nd 7th
2014   Corvette Racing   Richard Westbrook
  Tommy Milner
Chevrolet Corvette C7.R GTE
Pro
333 20th 4th
2015   Corvette Racing   Jordan Taylor
  Tommy Milner
Chevrolet Corvette C7.R GTE
Pro
337 17th 1st
2016   Corvette Racing - GM   Tommy Milner
  Jordan Taylor
Chevrolet Corvette C7.R GTE
Pro
219 DNF DNF
2017   Corvette Racing - GM   Tommy Milner
  Marcel Fässler
Chevrolet Corvette C7.R GTE
Pro
335 24th 8th
2018   Corvette Racing - GM   Tommy Milner
  Marcel Fässler
Chevrolet Corvette C7.R GTE
Pro
259 DNF DNF
2019   Corvette Racing   Tommy Milner
  Marcel Fässler
Chevrolet Corvette C7.R GTE
Pro
82 DNF DNF
Sources:[8][25]

Complete GT1 World Championship results edit

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pos. Pts Ref
2010 Mad-Croc Racing Chevrolet Corvette C6.R ABU
QR
ABU
CR
SIL
QR

13
SIL
CR

14
BRN
QR
BRN
CR
PRI
QR

19
PRI
CR

19
SPA
QR

18
SPA
CR

17
NÜR
QR
NÜR
CR
ALG
QR
ALG
CR
NAV
QR
NAV
CR
INT
QR
INT
CR
SAN
QR
SAN
CR
53rd 0 [26]

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results edit

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos. Points Ref
2014 Corvette Racing GTLM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R Chevrolet 5.5 V8 DAY
5
SEB
6
LBH
3
LGA
5
WGL
4
MOS
6
IMS
5
ELK
7
VIR
9
COA
10
PET
4
10th 291 [27]
2015 Corvette Racing GTLM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R Chevrolet 5.5 V8 DAY
3
SEB
9
LBH
7
LGA
6
WGL
7
MOS
5
ELK
7
VIR
8
COA
8
PET
3
8th 261 [28]
2016 Corvette Racing GTLM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R Chevrolet 5.5 V8 DAY
1
SEB
1
LBH
2
LGA
7
WGL
4
MOS
2
LIM
1
ELK
1
VIR
9
COA
5
PET
3
1st 345 [29]
2017 Corvette Racing GTLM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R Chevrolet LT5.5 5.5 V8 DAY
9
SEB
10
LBH
1
COA
7
WGL
5
MOS
8
LIM
8
ELK
5
VIR
6
LGA
9
PET
4
8th 276 [30]
2018 Corvette Racing GTLM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R Chevrolet LT5.5 5.5 V8 DAY
4
SEB
6
LBH
1
MOH
8
WGL
5
MOS
3
LIM
4
ELK
2
VIR
6
LGA
5
PET
2
3rd 310 [31]
2019 Corvette Racing GTLM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R Chevrolet LT5.5 5.5 V8 DAY
8
SEB
8
LBH
3
MDO
8
WGL
8
MOS
8
LIM
6
ELK
6
VIR
4
LGA
4
PET
7
8th 275 [32]
2020 Corvette Racing GTLM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R Chevrolet 5.5 L V8 DAY
7
DAY
5
SEB
1
ELK
2
VIR
4
ATL
2
MDO
2
CLT
4
PET
4
LGA
6
SEB
6
3rd 315 [33]
2021 Vasser Sullivan Racing GTD Lexus RC F GT3 Lexus 5.0 L V8 DAY
16
SEB MDO DET WGL WGL LIM
ELK LGA LBH VIR PET 71st 178 [34]
Source:[8]

Bathurst 1000 results edit

Year Team Car Co-driver Position Laps Ref
2014 James Rosenberg Racing Holden Commodore VF   Nick Percat 3rd 161 [35]
2015 Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport Holden Commodore VF   Nick Percat 19th 159 [36]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Corvette Racing Driver Profile: Oliver Gavin". Archived from the original on 22 April 2010.
  2. ^ a b Taylor, Simon (February 2013). "Lunch with... Oliver Gavin". Motor Sport magazine. p. 94. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  3. ^ "FIA GT Championship Driver Biography: Oliver Gavin". Archived from the original on 13 April 2011.
  4. ^ Gavin, Oliver [@olivergavin] (31 October 2020). "1/4 I will step away from full-time competition with the @CorvetteRacing program at the end of 2020. I will complete my 18th full-time season with the team at the Sebring 12hrs in two weeks. To have been with the same team for 19 seasons has been an immense privilege, cont https://t.co/UUT7tehoqu" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ "2021 Spa-Francorchamps results - FIA World Endurance Championship". www.fiawec.com. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  6. ^ Gavin, Oliver [@olivergavin] (29 April 2021). "A little update for you. #OGDA @CorvetteRacing #CorvetteStingray #C8R 📸 @drewgibsonphoto https://t.co/mPz1BG7muf" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  7. ^ "Oliver Gavin to retire from racing after Spa WEC". us.motorsport.com. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  8. ^ a b c "Oliver Gavin Results". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Oliver Gavin". Motor Sport. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Oliver Gavin race results". TouringCars.net. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Oliver Gavin – 2000 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Oliver Gavin – 2001 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Oliver Gavin – 2002 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Oliver Gavin – 2003 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Oliver Gavin – 2004 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Oliver Gavin – 2005 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  17. ^ "Oliver Gavin – 2006 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  18. ^ "Oliver Gavin – 2007 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  19. ^ "Oliver Gavin – 2008 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  20. ^ "Oliver Gavin – 2009 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCA Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  21. ^ "Oliver Gavin – 2010 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  22. ^ "Oliver Gavin – 2011 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  23. ^ "Oliver Gavin – 2012 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  24. ^ "Oliver Gavin – 2013 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  25. ^ "Oliver Gavin". Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  26. ^ "FIA GT1 World Championship – Season 2010: Results". Speedsport Magazine. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  27. ^ "Oliver Gavin – 2014 Tudor United SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  28. ^ "Oliver Gavin – 2015 Tudor United SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  29. ^ "Oliver Gavin – 2016 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  30. ^ "Oliver Gavin – 2017 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  31. ^ "Oliver Gavin – 2018 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  32. ^ "Oliver Gavin – 2019 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  33. ^ "Oliver Gavin – 2020 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  34. ^ "Oliver Gavin – 2021 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  35. ^ "2014 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  36. ^ "2015 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 26 August 2023.

External links edit

Sporting positions
Preceded by British Formula Three Champion
1995
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Unknown
F1 Safety Car Driver
1997–1999
Succeeded by
Preceded by WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
GTLM Champion

2016
With: Tommy Milner
Succeeded by
Preceded by North American Endurance Cup
GTLM Champion

2016
With: Tommy Milner
Succeeded by
Awards
Preceded by McLaren Autosport BRDC Award
1991
Succeeded by
Preceded by Autosport
British Club Driver of the Year

1992
Succeeded by