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Priced at $735,000, the company plans to have four cars in the IMSA WeatherTech Series next year.
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The typical pattern is for manufacturers to race at least one of their GT3 cars in the GTD Pro ranks and sell other chassis to competitors in GTD.
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The new car is a ground-up design by Corvette’s engine builders and production engineers.
The Corvette Z06 GT3.R set to become Chevrolet’s flagship car in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship was unveiled on Friday in Daytona Beach, Florida, ahead of the Rolex 24.
Priced at $735,000, the company plans to have four cars in the series next year, but didn’t say who would race the GT3.R or if the relationship with Pratt & Miller at Corvette Racing, currently campaigning with a C8.R GTD in the GTD Pro series, will continue. The typical pattern is for manufacturers to race at least one of their GT3 cars in the GTD Pro ranks and sell other chassis to competitors in GTD. Pratt & Miller continues to be the primary test, research and development team for the new car.
Two Corvettes will be built for the World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Corvette will have a C8.R GT3 this year under rules requiring at least one bronze driver in the lineup.
FIA rules require a minimum of 20 cars to be eligible for GT3. Christie Bagne, program manager for the Z06 GT3.R, left open the possibility that private investors could also buy the racing version of this year’s Z06 Corvette.
In line with other manufacturers building customer cars to FIA GT3 rules, the emphasis for the new racing Corvette is to make its performance bandwidth broad enough to accommodate gentlemen drivers, a good balance for endurance events by placing the engine lower in the frame and ease of race weekend prep and maintenance.
The new car is a ground-up design by the engine builders and production engineers of Corvette, responsible for the aluminum chassis, and Pratt & Miller, who fabricated the extensive carbon-fiber elements. The Z06 street car body changes primarily reflect cooling needs integrated with the Corvette’s street car design.
The engine for the race car is based on the LT6 engine from the Z06 with the major differences resulting from the engine being lowered into the chassis. Such modifications include a unique sump and front cover castings, scavenger pump, oil cooler and hydraulics, etc. Current GT3 rules require 525 horsepower limited by air restrictors, less horsepower than street cars. GT3 rules prohibit the use of ABS and have standard cooling requirements.
What does a buyer get for his hefty purchase price? “There will be support provided to our customers’ race teams at the track and at home between races,” said Bagne.
Other key technical points on the GT3.R
• CFD was used with a 45% scale model for aerodynamic concepts.
• Aluminum frame is built at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant.
• Unlike its predecessor, the roll cage is integrated into the GT3.R’s aluminum chassis.
• Engine redline is 7400 rpm, which is unchanged, but shift point is higher – 6,800 vs 6,300.
• The entry/exit has been improved.
