The Corvette has long been the gold standard in building successful race cars with remarkable street-friendly counterparts. And it seems they’ve taken it up another notch. The C7.R race car was unveiled today in Detroit, alongside the all-new Z06, with which it was co-developed.
The C7.R is all ready to go, as it will be debuting in just two weeks at the 52nd Rolex at Daytona. It is the first of 11 American races in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship (the result of the ALMS-GRAND AM merger), and the C7.R will look to lead the GT Le Mans class, as it has so often in the past.
The C7.R was built in close conjunction with the Z06, sharing the frame and chassis, as well as aerodynamic strategies and engine innovations. The aerodynamics are the most noteworthy, as Corvette has reached incredible levels of performance in that category, both in the Z06 and the C7.R.
Under the hood is where the C7.R branches off from the Z06. The newest racer keeps the C6.R’s 5.5-liter powertrain, as that is the maximum displacement allowed in the GT circuit. But everything else is noticeably bigger and better. The wheels are wider, the brakes are bigger, and the attention to detail has even carried over to the rear wing, which is more efficient and effective than ever before, thanks to a larger radiator inlet that creates a smoother airflow.
Topping it all off is a touch of home-grown success: the all-new aluminum frame will be built in house, in Kentucky, which is a first for Corvette.
The C6.R didn’t need a lot of improving, but it got it anyway. And that’s how the best stay the best.
Photo Credit: Chevrolet
