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Olivier Beretta
Olivier Beretta
Birthdate:
November 23, 1969
Birthplace:
Monte Carlo, MC
Residence:
Monte Carlo, MC
Marital Status:
Single
Children:
1
Team (Class):
CORVETTE RACING
Corvette C6.R(GT1)
Website:
http://www.corvetteracing.com
PR Contact:
Rick Voegelin
rickvoegelin@compuserve.com
(831) 761-2201

The most decorated competitor in the history of the American Le Mans Series, Olivier Beretta has a resume that none in the paddock can match. ... Captured fifth class championship in 2007, the most by any driver in Series. ... Owns records for career wins (38), pole positions (22) and fastest laps (21) and ranks among leaders in starts, podiums, top-five and top-10 finishes. ... A five-time winner at Le Mans, Beretta has been part of Corvette Racing stable since 2004 and continues that in 2008 with Oliver Gavin.

2008: At Sebring, teamed with Oliver Gavin/Max Papis for runner-up finish in GT1 that was lowlighted by lengthy trip to paddock to repaired failed halfshaft. Returned to finish eight laps behind sister car. ... At St. Petersburg, led from wire-to-wire with Gavin after capturing 21st career pole position, most all-time in Series history. Victory was pairing's second straight at St. Petersburg circuit. ... At Long Beach, ran second with Gavin to sister car as two Corvettes finished a lap behind the overall race winners. ... At Utah, came up second again with Gavin. Duo lost time during first pit stop with refueling rig and never made up gap. Beretta did claim 22nd Series pole, extending his all-time record. ... At Lime Rock, again finished second with uncharacteristic problems with Corvette's gearbox. Did post race's fastest GT1 lap at 53.367 (101.186 mph). ... At Mid-Ohio, beat and banged at the two-hour mark with teammate Johnny O'Connell out of pitlane. Once cars served nearly eight minutes in penalities, watched O'Connell go by in waning minutes for class victory. Posted race's fastest GT1 lap for second straight race at 1:18.068 (104.125 mph). ... At Road America, appeared destined to break through for victory until uncharacteristic Gavin crash in the fast Kink section while leading in the final hour. Duo had led entire GT1 race until that point and settled for third in class. … At Mosport, again finished second with Gavin behind Magnussen/O’Connell duo that never relinquished lead. Set fastest race lap at 1:14.57 (118.713 mph)… At Detroit, score long-awaited second win of season when team won battle in pitlane on two occasions. Came back from mid-race contact with slower GT2 car. … At Road Atlanta, second with Gavin/Papis after losing time mid-race to malfunctioning throttle linkage. Had led twice in class. … At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, ended season on high note with 40th career victory, only driver to accomplish feat. Passed O’Connell with 45 minutes left for final lead change.

2007: Championship season saw Beretta/Gavin duo win nine times in 12 starts to tie all-time Series record. ... At Sebring, found victory lane for third time and second year in a row with 18-second victory over sister car. Teamed with Gavin/ Max Papis and saw car take GT1 lead for good near three-hour mark. ... At St. Petersburg, scored 30th career Series victory, 16th with Gavin. Extended career fast qualifier record with 19th and coasted to finish after sister Corvette broke driveshaft. ... At Long Beach, drove to third straight win of season with Gavin, and 31st of career, over sister Corvette. Team won race out of pit lane at 50-minute mark to maintain lead. ... At Houston, posted 20th career GT1 pole position and finished second in class behind Johnny O’Connell/Jan Magnussen sister entry. Three-race win streak came to end. ... At Utah, returned to top step of podium with Gavin for season’s fourth win and 32nd of career. Set 21st career fast race lap and finished a half-minute up on sister car of O’Connell/Magnussen after starting from rear of grid (tire change). ... At Lime Rock, returned to winning ways with 0.384-second win over sister Corvette. Win was third in four tries for Gavin/ Beretta at 1.54-mile circuit. ... At Mid-Ohio, posted easy win after No. 4 car was elevated to class pole start (No. 3 failed post-qualifying inspection). Led entire way by no less than five seconds as Beretta/Gavin duo won again. ... At Road America, won fourth straight and third time in four years at circuit. Car led entire way after pole-sitting sister car started from pit lane. Gained a lap during rain-filled caution period when safety car separated two Corvettes. ... At Mosport, watched Gavin qualify on pole but finished second on day after being separated from No. 3 car during caution period. Second-place finish ended four-race win streak. ... At Detroit, second again with Gavin as No. 3 dominated weekend with class pole and fastest race lap. ... At Petit, clinched record fifth class championship and returned to Victory Circle with Gavin/Papis as trio repeated Sebring class win. Watched as No. 3 crashed out of race in first 30 minutes and ran off steady laps for easy win over Doran Maserati MC12. ... At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, put punctuation on championship season with season’s ninth class win in special ‘Badboy Vette’ paint scheme. ... Qualified on class pole twice and posted one fastest race lap.

2006: Teamed with Gavin for repeat GT1 championship, fourth of career for Beretta. Started all 10 events with four wins in tense battle between Corvette and Aston Martin Racing. ... Teamed with Gavin/Jan Magnussen for easy win and sixth straight dating back to Portland 2005. No. 4 Corvette took the lead just over an hour into race. ... Went on to win at Houston and Mid-Ohio to set GT1 record most consecutive wins. ... Win streak ended at Lime Rock with fourth-place finish following crash with No. 20 Dyson Racing prototype. Suffered another uncharacteristic fourth-place at Utah as two-car Corvette team failed to finish first or second for first time since October 2003. ... Captured pole at Portland and ended two-race winless streak with Gavin in Portland heat and maintained points advantage despite runner-up finish at Road America to Corvette mates Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell. ... Second again at Mosport before third-place finish at Petit Le Mans, both times finishing behind Aston Martin entries. ... Cemented second straight class title with Gavin by finishing second at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Forced to pit after early-race collision (fender damage) but fortuitous caution period allowed the pit crew to reattach the fender without losing contact with the leaders. ... One class pole and three fastest race laps.

2005: Won first class championship since 2000 as Beretta/Gavin won six of final seven races in first year for Corvette C6.R. ... Third in class at Sebring to open season and posted runner-up finishes at Road Atlanta and Mid-Ohio before posting season’s first win at Lime Rock. Win there was their second straight at the circuit. ... Was second at Infineon before reeling off five straight events to end season - Portland, Road America, Mosport, Petit Le Mans and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. ... . Secured championship lead at Mosport. ... Fastest GT1 qualifier three times with two fastest race laps.

2004: Returned to GTS ranks by signing with Corvette Racing. Paired with Gavin, and two recorded four wins in nine starts and narrowly missed championship. ... Duo’s debut at Sebring resulted in retirement early (mechanical). ... Second to Fellows/O’Connell at Mid- Ohio before season’s first win at Lime Rock. ... Third at Infineon, second at Portland before consecutive wins at Mosport, Road America and Petit Le Mans. ... Second place at Laguna Seca meant runner-up championship finish. ... Four poles and fast laps on season.

2003: Returned from F1 stint to Series and raced entire year in LMP900 for JML Team Panoz with fourthplace championship standing. ... Fifth at Sebring with co-drivers Max Papis/Gunnar Jeannette. ... Fourth at Atlanta with Papis and was same at Infineon with Jeannette ... Joined by David Saelens and the new duo never finished below third position the remainder of the year. ... Trois-Rivieres and Mosport each produced a third-place finish, as did Miami. ... Took runner-up honors at Road America, Laguna Seca and seasonending Petit Le Mans.

2000: Won second consecutive GTS class driving title in Dodge Vipers fielded by Team ORECA. Enjoyed one of the most successful Series seasons of any driver, winning nine of 12 events, setting Series record for most wins in a single season by a driver in any class (shared with Karl Wendlinger). ... Teamed with Wendlinger/Dominique Dupuy to take GTS win at Sebring. ... He/Wendlinger were GTS winners at Charlotte, seventh overall. Won back-to-back at Silverstone and Nurburgring, eighth overall at both venues. ... Settled for second place at Sears Point behind David Donohue/Tommy Archer before returning to winner’s circle at Mosport. ... Second at Texas to Ron Fellows/Andy Pilgrim. … Won at Portland, 10th overall, behind nine prototypes. … Added Marc Duez as driver for long distance Petit Le Mans, but came in fourth. ... Closed year with wins at Laguna, Las Vegas and Adelaide. … Also recorded six poles and seven fastest race laps.

1999: Inaugural GTS class driving champion in Series with five wins in six starts ... Debuted at Mosport when Beretta/Donohue won in Team ORECA Dodge Viper. Win was first of three for the twosome (Sears Point, Portland). ... Beretta then won Petit Le Mans in driving company of Wendlinger/Duez. ... Won with Wendlinger at Laguna Seca, then took second at Las Vegas with Donohue.

DRIVER NOTES

At Le Mans: Finished on podium in 2008 in third place with Gavin/Papis after the No. 64 Corvette C6.R underwent repairs for alternator and engine compartments. ...Five career wins. ... Took three straight with Corvette Racing from 2004-2006 in partnership with Gavin/Magnussen. ... Beretta/Dupuy/Wendlinger took GTS wins in 1999 and 2000 for ORECA. ... Second in GT2 in 1998 with ORECA (with Archer/Pedro Lamy) a year after accident sidelined ORECA Viper after 263 laps. ... Scored top-five P900 finishes from 2001-03, highlighted by third-place in 2001 for factory Chrysler effort with Wendlinger/Lamy. ... Debuted in 1996 with 12th-place showing in GT1 Viper.

One of the most well-versed competitors in the Series paddock. Born and raised in Monte Carlo, a haven for many race drivers who migrate there from other nations. ... Began racing karts before moving to French Formula 3 in 1989. Third in the championship in 1990 and took third place at the Monaco Grand Prix support race that year. ... 1992 saw mix of International Formula 3000 with Formula 1 testing duties for Lotus. ... Sixth in 1994 F3000 championship for Forti while testing for the Larrousse Grand Prix team. Competed in 10 grand prix for Larrousse; best finish was seventh in German Grand Prix. ... Won titles in 1997, 1998 and 1999 FIA GT Championship seasons driving Dodge Viper. In overall FIA competition, won 18 of 33 starts between 1996-99. ... Also won overall title at 2000 Daytona 24 Hours. ... Has worked extensively as F1 test driver for BMW Williams team and Michelin in recent years; also was Lotus test driver in 1992. ... Cites Road America and Road Atlanta as favorite tracks stating “they have it all.”

DRIVER STATS
YearStartsWinsTop 3Top 5Top 10FQsFLs
200811311111123
200712912121221
20061048101013
200510610101032
20049488944
20039069900
200012911121267
19996566644
Career79407278792224