Corvette Racing just about ready to start building GT2 C6.R
click for a high-res gallery from the 2008 Detroit Sports Car Challenge
2009 will be a transition year for the American Le Mans Series as the GT1 class all but disappears after the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Corvette Racing team announced a few weeks ago that it will switch from GT1 to the GT2 class. In an ALMS conference call, program manager Dough Fehan revealed that the engineering work on the new car is done and assembly of the first car will start in the next 7-10 days. Visually, the new car will be almost indistinguishable from the GT1 racer, with the biggest difference being a smaller rear wing. Underneath the skin, the carbon brakes will have to go as they aren't allowed in GT2 so steel rotors will have to dissipate the kinetic energy. Creating kinetic energy will be a new, smaller, 6.0L version of the engine currently used. The GT2 engine will continue to run on cellulosic E85.
The GT2 cars will likely make their competition debut at the Mid-Ohio ALMS race in early August. Before that happens, the GT1 cars will make three final runs at Sebring, Long Beach and of course Le Mans to try and win one more time.
Gallery: Detroit Sports Car Challenge 08
[Source: American Le Mans Series]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Conor 6:27PM (10/26/2008)
I sure am gonna miss those glowing red brakes...
It's a shame Aston ever left.
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carslaxlife 6:28PM (10/26/2008)
Another issue is that there's so much competition with Flying Lizard and Rizi Competizione we 'Vette faithful may have to stomach some regular losing.
Kiiks 2:15AM (10/27/2008)
But it'll be a nice change for you guys when winning one actually means beating somebody.
IOMTT 10:00AM (10/27/2008)
@ Carslaxlife...I would not count on the Corvettes being uncompetitive. Pratt and Miller is more of a "factory" type effort than Flying Lizard and Risi. It is going to be great!
AZZO45b 8:15PM (10/27/2008)
IOMTT: Don't rule out a smaller GT2 budget for the Corvette guys either... GM is bleeding $$$
As for Risi... how do you think they afford Mika Salo & Jamie Melo? Not F1 level $$$ but good support
Team Penske is vacationing in Grand Am in '09, keeping the team together while Porsche develops a Hybrid P1 concept. GA/DPs are cheap... cheap enough for more $$$ at Flying Lizzard or a team of Porsche's choosing! JMO.
Mobius_1 6:27PM (10/26/2008)
Wow, Corvette vs 911 vs F430 vs Aston vs M3 vs Ford GT vs Bunch of others...
Don't let Max Mosley anywhere near this series :)
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JD 8:02PM (10/26/2008)
Ha, no kidding! If only the GT and V8 were anywhere near competitive. The Panoz was a nice surprise at Laguna though. Damn, all those big V8's sounded beautiful.
Pat 10:10PM (10/26/2008)
I'm gonna miss the 427 going around Mosport : (
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Andrew 12:31PM (10/27/2008)
Tell me about it. Those vette's at WOT sound MEAN! My favourite sounding car there.
Johnnie 10:29PM (10/26/2008)
About friggen time......
I knew it would only be a matter of time before chevy wanted to start actually competing against someone in ALMS.
Should be great to see.
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Kiiks 2:10AM (10/27/2008)
I thought GT2 cars weren't allowed to run front splitters nor rear diffusers either. (In addition to smaller wings)
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jj 2:53PM (10/27/2008)
"I thought GT2 cars weren't allowed to run front splitters nor rear diffusers either."
The FIA GT3 class gets splitters and diffusers, so I'm sure GT2 must.
I'm going to miss the LS7R too.
Kiiks 3:33PM (10/27/2008)
Can't remember the last time I saw a F430 or and RSR with a front lip or a true diffuser. The "Flat Bottom" of the car comes up a bit at the back but it's covered neatly by the bodywork and doesn't protrude like the C6.R and DBR9 diffusers.
THe point I'm making is the GT2 C6.R isn't going to look like the GT1 car except for Corvette parts. It will make a lot less downforce and you'll be able to tell.
GeoSB8K 3:04PM (10/27/2008)
This is going to make ALMS that much more exciting and it's already been my favorite racing series. I can't wait to see Corvette mix it up with the Flying Lizard Porsche guys and the Ferrari guys!
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Quan 9:33PM (10/27/2008)
GT2 is going to be so amazing to watch once this actually happens.
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