Wednesday 15th January 2014

Chevrolet launches Corvette C7.R

Latest Chevy racer aims to continue phenomenal success of motorsport Corvettes

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'Winningest' is a phrase Chevrolet very proudly proclaims when discussing the its motorsport history. In the American Le Mans Series, Corvettes in various forms won 90 races across the past 14 seasons, including 54 one-twos and 10 manufacturer championships. Then there's Chevrolet's NASCAR entry, the World Challenge...

Watch your mirrors Porsche, Aston, BMW...

So the latest C7.R racer is an important car for Chevrolet. Launched with the Z06, Chevrolet has been keen to stress the links between the two. The R now uses the road car's direct injection (improving consumption by three per cent and saving enough fuel over 24 hours to forego a pit stop) as well as the stiffer aluminium chassis. Not only does it benefit handling but it makes the car more durable too says Chevy.

There are aero links too aimed at reducing lift and boosting downforce with two cars "developed right alongside each other" (see Jim Campbell in the vid below). In the road car that means a Z06 with the Z07 pack produced the most downforce of any Chevrolet ever. For the R, the aero is of course much more aggressive but not entirely dissimilar.

The C7.R will make its debut in the new Tudor United Sportscar Championship over in the States later this month. Chevrolet is understandably keen to beat Porsche, SRT, Aston Martin, Ferrari and BMdubya again. Not long now until we can find out.

But before then, we'll have a chat with Oliver Gavin to find out just what racing a Corvette is like. He was ALMS champion in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2012 and will compete in the C7.R this season. Keep your eyes peeled!

Watch the C7.R walkaround here

 

 

 

 

[mrclav]

Mmmmm, tasty....!

[Tomatogti]

The previous car was the best sounding endurance racer bar none. Hope this continues. Looks fantastic.

[team underdog]

Badass!

[chevy-stu]

meeeeeeeaaan...

[coogy]

Is this going to be at Le Mans this year?

[TheOrangePeril]

I am moist.

[ManOpener]

Tomatogti said:

The previous car was the best sounding endurance racer bar none. Hope this continues. Looks fantastic.

I remember seeing the C6.R at 6H Silverstone back in 2012, and the main word I could use to describe how it sounded was "dirty". The Astons sounded nearly as good but still not quite...

[thatdude]

I like the road car. I like this even more.

[vetteheadracer]

Scotsman Robin Liddell will be joining Olly Gavin in the #4 car at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, this picture was taken by me at the Roar Before the 24 the 3 day public test the first weekend of January.



the C7R tested in the camo at the Roar because it wasn't being officially launched until last Monday.







On the subject of badass dirty sounding race cars.

The Aston sounded good at Daytona.



so did the SDR Corvette DP.



P.S. Is was nice of Daytona to paint the seats in the stands to match the Corvette camo.......

[Greg_D]

When i win the euro millions and i try and qualify for Le Mans, i will be buying a corvette.

Absolutely stunning...

[Madkat]

Errrr...WOW!

[JamesyBoy75]

I have to say at Le Mans last year I was mostly looking forward to hearing the Vipers, but the Astons sounded much better, and that Corvette -'out of this world. Just planning Le Mans and Nurburgring this week - wonder if the Bentley can trump them both??

[soad]

I want one!

[joema]

JamesyBoy75 said:

I have to say at Le Mans last year I was mostly looking forward to hearing the Vipers, but the Astons sounded much better, and that Corvette -'out of this world. Just planning Le Mans and Nurburgring this week - wonder if the Bentley can trump them both??

me too!!