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| Corvette Racing, No Doubt | |
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|  | | September 09 2008 11:53:45 PM EST | |
| GM had their internal meetings and finally announced that Corvette Racing lives!
Both GT1 and GT2 Corvettes in 2009. A new FIA-GT class car in 2010.
Official designation of the new car will remain C6R.
Rest assured the ‘go / no-go’ discussion on Corvette was not THAT volatile. GM really does understand the value of Corvette Racing to the brand, the road cars, and the street cred. It’s a business, but the passion for Corvette was not in doubt. In the big picture, a lot of facts about a lot of other GM Racing programs needed to be sorted through and that took time.……
Even the PR comment about ‘select 2009 races’ won’t change the fact that Corvette Racing will remain a 24 / 7 / 365 story and buzz-builder. Especially with its new direction. And ‘select’ is still subject to fluid translation…….stay tuned, stay ‘frosty’.
So, Corvette Racing emerges converging toward the new FIA rules. Look for new cars, new engines, new technologies, real competition, and an escape from its intramural sports play.
While the new GT will be more production-based, it won’t look all that different from the current car [save for a few visible aero features].
* But, production symmetry means a new aluminum chassis to replace the current steel frame.
* Power will remain LS7-based, transitioning from 7 Liters [GT1] to 6L [GT2 rules] to 5.5L [the max under the 2010 FIA rules]. Shorter stroke will deliver the displacement reduction, which will open the door for higher RPM’s / maybe more HP [PS- Z06 LS7 @ 7100 rpm is already one of the highest turning OHV motors on the planet].
* Steel brakes vs carbon and narrower tire patches will change cornering performance.
But, overall the new cars will still be quick, visceral, and [gotta love it] still Corvette!
The new Pratt&Miller-produced GT2 Corvette, has not been built yet, so don’t Google ‘gt2 + Corvette’ yet……..you will only find the Riley car for sale AND this cool number!
More details on the GT2 will spill out over time and the BadBoy graphics for the test car are already designed [diecast to follow?] |
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