Corvette Racing C6.R & Production Corvette ZR1 – Racing Improves The Breed
It’s been said, and a lot of times I’ve been one of them, that the worst thing about owning a Corvette is dealing with the stigma of being “a Corvette owner”. It’s a shame really that the stigma has to go with it, because the Vette is one hell of a performer, most definitely in their latest iterations. And they are real screamers both on the road and on the track.
“Race on Sunday, Sell on Monday,” is the old phrase, and Chevy says that literally in their press release. Just because it’s and old phrase doesn’t mean it’s not true.
“Corvette sales tracked directly to customer leads at ALMS races have doubled from 2005 to 2009. This proves what we have heard anecdotally from other Corvette owners: Watching production-based Corvettes win against legendary marques like BMW, Porsche and Ferrari, on legendary tracks like Sebring and Le Mans, makes Corvette all the more desirable,” says John Fitzpatrick, Chevrolet Performance Cars marketing manager.
So there’s a clear reason why GM is doing this: To sell more Corvettes.
That’s not altogether a bad thing (sure, it would be nicer if they were doing it solely to win races), and besides, that means that what works on the track on Sunday, does indeed make it into the Corvettes you and I can go and buy right off the showroom floor on Monday (hey Chris, about that raise).
GM goes to great lengths to show the commonality between the Corvette Z06 and the Corvette Racing C6.R. And they’re not just blowing smoke here. The specs for the road-going Vette match the racer line by line, except for overall horsepower, where the street car actually has MORE.
The list for the 2010 Corvette ZR1 reads like every racer-boys fantasy:
Displacement (L / ci): 6.2 / 376
Horsepower: 638 @ 6500 rpm
Torque (lb-ft): 604 @ 3800 rpm
Bore diameter (mm / in): 103.25 / 4.06
Crankshaft stroke (mm / in): 92 / 3.62
“V” angle (deg): 90
Cylinder bore spacing
(mm / ci): 111.7 / 4.40
Valvetrain: pushrod with overhead valves, titanium inlet
Valves per cylinder: 2
Camshaft drive: chain
Cylinder case material: aluminum
Cylinder liners: dry iron
Cylinder head material: aluminum
Lubrication system: dry sump
Fuel system: sequential EFI
Throttle system: supercharged w/intercooler, throttle body individual runner
Fuel: premium unleaded gasoline required
Body style: two-door hatchback coupe
Drivetrain: longitudinal front engine, rear-wheel drive
Chassis: hydroformed aluminum chassis, composite body
Wheelbase (in): 105.7
Length (in): 176.2
Width (in): 75.9
Height (in): 49
Weight (lb): 3324
Front suspension: independent, short/long arm double wishbone, cast aluminum controls, transverse-mounted composite leaf spring, monotube shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
Rear suspension: independent, short/long arm double wishbone, cast aluminum control arms, transverse-mounted composite leaf spring, monotube shock absorbers; anti-roll bar
Brakes: front and rear power-assisted carbon-ceramic disc with 6-piston front and 4-piston rear calipers, cross-drilled rotors, ABS
Wheels (in): 19 x 10 (front); 20 x 12 (rear)
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 2
P285/30ZR19 (front),
P335/25ZR20 (rear)
Fuel capacity (gal): 18
Seriously, with those kind of numbers on tap, isn’t it worth dealing with the “Corvette Guy” thing?
1969 Corvette
Photos: GM