Antonio García and Dane Cameron Secure Fifth Championships at Petit Le Mans
Atlanta, GA – At the conclusion of the Motul Petit Le Mans, Antonio García and Dane Cameron further solidified their legacy in American sports car racing by each claiming their fifth IMSA championship. García, alongside co-driver Alexander Sims, earned the GTD PRO Championship with Corvette Racing, while Cameron and teammate PJ Hyett clinched the LMP2 Championship for AO Racing.
García’s impressive run of titles spans 17 years with the factory Corvette Racing team, beginning in the American Le Mans Series. His latest championship marks a total of six, establishing him as the IMSA class leader since the modern era commenced in 2014. Notably, García was the final GT class champion of ALMS, driving three generations of Corvette race cars to victory.
Key to his success, García attributes the cohesion and loyalty of the Corvette Racing team. He stated, “When that happens, everything runs very, very smooth,” emphasizing the importance of teamwork and continuity in achieving consistent performance. Despite his extensive experience, García admitted to feeling pressure in high-stakes situations: “I was nervous today… everything had to be perfect.”
Corvette Racing’s performance this season was characterized by seven podium finishes, including a victory, as the team demonstrated the competitiveness of the Corvette Z06 GT3.R in its inaugural full season.
In contrast, Cameron has diversified his championship wins across multiple teams and classes. His five IMSA titles span from the 2014 GTD Championship with Turner Motorsport to the anticipated success in LMP2 with AO Racing. Reflecting on his milestone, Cameron remarked, “Five is a special number… I believed in the project… that it had this potential to bring a championship.”
This championship adds to Cameron’s accolades, as he has secured titles in four different classes with various teams. His recent success underscores the growing competitiveness within LMP2, highlighting the caliber of drivers participating in the category.
Cameron, who transitioned to AO Racing after his departure from Porsche Penske Motorsport, shared the sentiment of personal redemption with this title: “Even though we won the championship last year, it was personally a tough stretch for me. For me to feel back on my own two feet a little bit is good. I’m very, very proud of this one.”
Both García and Cameron’s achievements at Petit Le Mans not only contribute to their individual legacies but also reflect the evolving landscape and competitive spirit of IMSA racing.
