Whether it’s to get a glimpse of the latest supercar or simply to be immersed in every facet of automotive culture, the Goodwood Festival of Speed has it all – and so much more. It’s the event on the motoring calendar and this year, fans there will see a Corvette legend once again driving the sportscar. And this time it packs an electrifying punch.

Just hours after the UK reveal of the E-Ray, the first-ever hybrid, all-wheel-drive Corvette – Oliver Gavin, Corvette’s most successful factory driver, stepped behind the wheel of the 642bhp V8 eighth-generation Corvette, offering Goodwood fans a glimpse of both its incredible performance and striking design.

With class wins at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans an impressive five times, the Sebring 12 Hours on six occasions and Petit Le Mans five times and a total of 51 victories, Oliver Gavin played a vital role on the team for nearly 20 years.

The only driver to have raced every iteration of the factory Corvette and taken race wins in all of them, Gavin stepped back from professional competition in 2021. Today, he continues this successful relationship as a brand ambassador and as a high-performance test driver for the sportscar brand.

Here’s what Oliver had to say during the event.

What sets Corvette apart from other performance brands both on the track and on the road?

The engineers have done an exceptional job of creating a versatile yet powerful car.  From a long-distance tourer to a fun track day car, it’s a sports car to enjoy on every occasion.

The ability for drivers to tune the mid-engine chassis to their liking is a key feature that sets Corvette apart. Being able to adjust elements such as steering feel, the Magnetic Ride suspension, brake response and engine sound, allows drivers to precisely define their preferred settings both on and off the track. 

What is it about the Goodwood event that makes it the place to launch E-Ray RHD?

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a unique event and one of the world’s best automotive shows. With both static displays and dynamic driving up the hillclimb. It gives the audience of enthusiasts an opportunity to see and hear the car being pushed! E-Ray is now the fastest Corvette available in the UK and the launch off the line (0-62mph in just 2.9 seconds) delivers a phenomenal driving experience. Corvette’s performance, innovation and brand heritage make the Goodwood Festival of Speed the perfect place for its UK RHD reveal.

The E-Ray brings electric all-wheel-drive to Corvette. How does it change the driving experience?

With an electrically powered front axle, the E-Ray is a true first-of-its-kind Corvette. The all-season eAWD is perfect to take on the mixed conditions we see in the UK. The combination of the raw V8 power with the instant power of the electrified front axle system creates a more responsive and reassuring driving experience across a wide range of weather situations.

What’s something about the E-Ray that would really surprise people?

Stealth Mode - it is so unexpected! It allows you to leave (or arrive!) as quietly as you'd like, with the electric mode able to cover around three to four miles, at up to 45 mph. Then once the V8 kicks in, the combined sound is like nothing I’ve ever heard before!

What are your preferred settings for road or track?

The E-Ray is super adaptable, meaning that each driver can create their own highly tailored driving experience. For me, having the Z Mode option, a customisable driving mode that allows drivers to tailor various performance settings to their preferences on the E-Ray, is an attractive feature. This allows me to instantly switch to an ultra-high-performance mode at the touch of a button.

On the track – I am a racer at heart, so of course, once I have selected Track on the Drive Mode, I then turn to the Performance Traction Mode selection. My preference is Race 2, which offers the minimum level of driver aids. Even at this setting, I remain completely comfortable behind the wheel and able to push the Corvette to the limit! *

*Carried out by a professional driver on a closed racing track under controlled conditions. Always drive responsibly and in accordance with applicable road traffic laws.

What’s your earliest Corvette memory?

That was visiting the Corvette garage at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2000 and hearing the Corvette V8 roar up close. It was an extraordinary experience and one that will stay with me forever! At the end of 2001 I had my first opportunity to drive a race Corvette and nearly 25 years later, I am still passionate about that incredible sound.

Stealth Mode or just wake up the neighbours?

Surely the Corvette roar is the perfect wakeup call?  

If you could take any Corvette to any track in the world to compete in another event, which combination would you choose?

My favourite race derivative has to be the Corvette C8.R. It was a brilliant car to drive. The development of the C8 was remarkable – the engineers had fully maximised the front engine layout of the previous generation, so the mid-engine chassis was the logical step forward and typical of Corvette’s push for innovation. The driver feel and dynamics of the car are elevated to another level.

There are a lot of parallels between the performance of the Corvette C8.R and the road going Z06. The road going Z06, free of any racing restrictions, was then refined into being not only an exceptional car on track, but also something that is comfortable and engaging as a daily drive.

For me, the ultimate track day experience with a road legal car, was the Z06 at the Nordschleife in Germany. Driving that car, on that track, is one of the best driving moments I’ve had.

So, my favourite car, on any track and any event? Perhaps that has to be one I never had a chance to compete at – the Nürburgring 24 in the Corvette C8.R!  After claiming its first win in the European Le Mans Series on Sunday with TF Sport, who knows, maybe we’ll see the Corvette Z06 GT3.R competing there in the not-too-distant future?  

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Now it’s possible to start your own journey with Corvette E-Ray in the UK. Both Coupe and Convertible E-Ray models, with prices starting from £153,440 and £159,230 respectively are available to order now.

For more information on specifications, pricing and to locate a dealer near you, please visit the official Chevrolet Europe website.