December 21, 2009: The Austin Hatcher Foundation’s one-of-a-kind, hand-carved Michelin tire is now on display, along with the rear wheel from the 2007 American Le Mans Series GT1 Championship Corvette, at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY. This piece of motorsports history was part of the General Motors display at the 2009 SEMA show and will remain at the museum until mid-January, and will be auctioned later in the year to raise monies for children and families affected by pediatric cancer.
During the 2009 American Le Mans Series Petite Le Mans, drivers from Corvette Racing’s Championship team, Austin Hatcher Foundation guests, and celebrities had the rare opportunity to help carve this unique tread onto
the Michelin tire, mounted on a BBS wheel at the American Le Mans Series/Michelin/Corvette Racing “Tire Groove” Event. The tread, which showcases the logos of Michelin, Corvette Racing, the American Le Mans
Series, the Austin Hatcher Foundation and the Foundation’s Hatch’s house of hope, made its transformation over the course of the weekend, with many people getting a chance to carve this piece of history. The Corvette Racing rear wheel was provided by Pratt Miller/Corvette Racing and was on the #4 GT1 Corvette during every one of the eleven races the car won during the 2007 American Le Mans Series.
Participating drivers from the Championship Corvette Team, which boasts six 24 Hours of Le Mans class wins, as well as 8 ALMS GT1 Manufacturers Championships, 8 ALMS GT1 Team Championships and 7 ALMS GT1 Drivers Championships, included Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen and Johnny O’Connell from the Compuware Corvette C6.R No. 3 and Olivier Beretta, Marcel Fassler and Oliver Gavin from the Compuware Corvette C6.R No. 4 car. Also taking the time out to make his mark on the tire was Corvette Racing Program Manager and well known Corvette icon, Doug Fehan.