The debut event for the 2020 Corvette Convertible is currently underway at the Kennedy Space Center Complex in Florida, but attendees were treated to more than just a topless mid-engine Vette. In addition to the new convertible, we also got a gander at this – the Corvette C8.R race car.
Driven on stage by Tommy Milner of Corvette Racing fame, the new Corvette C8.R not only looks amazing, but sounds amazing too. Slated to become Corvette Racing’s latest entry in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the new Corvette C8.R will also race in select FIA WEC events, including the 24 hours of Le Mans.
Indeed, the new mid-engine Corvette should make for a highly competitive race vehicle in Corvette C8.R guise, even compared to its predecessor, the front-engine C7.R.
The Corvette C8.R will compete against the likes of the Porsche 911 RSR and BMW M8 GTE.
Late last year, we covered a video that showed the Corvette C8.R conducting a late-night test session at Sebring, providing a tantalizing look at the camo’d racer pounding around the famous Florida race track. GM also teased the racer in a video over the summer, providing brief glimpses of the cockpit and various aero components.
The Corvette C8.R is actually not the first mid-engine Corvette racer produced, with previous examples including the Corvette GTP and Corvette Daytona Prototype. By contrast, the Corvette C8.R will run in GT spec, whereas the previous mid-engine Vette racers mentioned were both designed for the prototype class.
“The C8.R is much more than just a race-tuned version of the 2020 Corvette Stingray,” said Chevrolet U.S. vice president of Performance and Motorsports, Jim Campbell. “It’s a culmination of many years of testing and development between GM Design, Propulsion, Engineering and the Corvette Racing Team. The collaboration between these teams has allowed us to take these vehicles’ performance to the next level, both on the street and the track.”
The No.4 Corvette C8.R wears a silver livery, which takes inspiration from concept vehicles like the 1973 Chevrolet Aerovette and 1959 Corvette Stingray Racer. Chevy also announced that the No. 3 Corvette C8.R will feature a yellow livery with silver accents as a nod to successful GTLM Corvette race cars from the last two decades.
The Corvette C8.R will make its first competition debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more mid-engine Corvette news, Corvette C8 news, Corvette news, Chevrolet news and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
Any word on engine?
No word. No comments from staff across the board. Whatever it is, it is beastly. Stay tuned for video.
I have heard the new engine and it is not the Stingray engine for sure.
It has a flat crank and the one I heard sounded like a waste gate with flames out the exhaust.
GM is killing it here !!!!
Great job !!!
Love it !!
Look at the mid mounted exhaust, I wonder if that’s a design cue that will carry to the Z’s
I asked a few project folks about this at the event tonight. The general notion I got is that the center exhaust is not a production intent feature because of space considerations for the rear trunk.
Also heat considerations.