Chevrolet and Corvette Racing have announced they will be selling a racing version of the Corvette C8 Z06 to the public for privateer racing. Chevrolet confirmed the car will be available in time for the 2024 racing season in the US with the cars fitting within the FIA’s Group GT3 Racing regulations. The Corvette Z06 GT3.R race car will be sold as a turnkey operation for both pro and amateur racing teams.
“It’s an exciting time for Corvette – first with the reveal of the production Z06 and now confirming the Corvette Z06 GT3.R for customer racers,” said Mark Stielow, Chevrolet Director of Motorsports Competition Engineering. “The availability of the Z06 GT3.R will allow customer race teams the opportunity to campaign a Corvette that has benefited from Corvette Racing’s rich history.”
Chevrolet has confirmed the GT3.R uses the C8.R’s aluminium chassis and some of its aerodynamics. In general, the car will carry wind-tunnel-developed lightweight carbon body work. It will be powered by an LT6 5.5 litre flat-plane crank V8 engine derived from the street legal Z06. Chevrolet tells us the engine will develop somewhere between 500-600 horsepower (373-447 kW).
The transmission will be a 6-speed sequential racing transaxle. The suspension a motorsport specific double-wishbone system and the brakes a racing-specific 6-piston front / 4-piston rear system with specific cooling and quick-change capabilities.
In Australia, the GT World Challenge Australia is the series that incorporates GT3 cars, competing in the “GT3 Trophy Series” class. Other cars competing in this class are the Audi R8 LMS, Porsche 911 GT3 R, Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo, Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3, Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, Ferrari 488 GT3 with even a Chevrolet Camaro SS GT3. A couple of Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs thrown in amongst that group would certainly be interesting. GMSV has confirmed they have received quite a lot of interest in the GT3.R from local racers. With the recent launch of Chevrolet Racing in Australia, GMSV would be delighted to add the GT3.Rs to the Gen3 Supercars Chevy Camaro ZL1 and the ACDelco partnership with Fabietti Racing’s new GM designed Camaro Pro Slammer drag car.
Marc Ebolo, Managing Director of GM Australia and New Zealand (GMANZ) has told the media:
“The passion and excitement of success on the track has been such an important part of our Holden brand DNA for so long. This represents an all-new era, and Chevrolet Racing and our close alignment with GM Motorsport will be an ongoing demonstration of our passion for competition and commitment to the sport”.
One Response
It would appear we could see a group of these cars racing in Australia.
No doubt that they would be specular and quick but what would be the main competition?
Where would they race, how often and how many?
From what is published about these cars the most impressive aspect is their apparent reliability.
Lets hope we hear more in the near future