Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
The Chevrolet Corvette C6.R is a GT1 racing car developed by Pratt & Miller and General Motors for sports car racing . The vehicle is the successor to the Chevrolet Corvette C5-R and uses the body design of the Corvette C6 as well as technical improvements. Since its debut in 2005, the Corvette C6.R has built on the dominance of the Corvette C5-R in its motorsport class and has already achieved several championship victories in the American Le Mans Series and racing victories in the Le Mans Series , the FIA GT Championship and the 24th - Le Mans hour race .
development
Since the Corvette C5-R had already established itself as the winning vehicle, the development of the Corvette C6.R was more of a further development than a completely new racing vehicle that normally required a long test phase. Pratt & Miller's development was promoted by the fact that - in contrast to the Corvette C5-R, which only debuted two years after the road version appeared - the Corvette C6 and the Corvette C6.R were developed simultaneously. This meant that design elements that improved the performance of the racing car could also be used for the street version. Thus the Corvette C6.R could use unusual aerodynamic parts and still meet the homologation requirements. Conversely, elements of the racing car could also be used for the Corvette Z06, the top model of the street version, whose shape is similar to that of the Corvette C6.R.
A large part of the frame construction of the Corvette C6 was adopted for the Corvette C6.R and parts made of lightweight aluminum were used. Since the road car now had headlights permanently integrated into the body instead of pop-up headlights like the Corvette C5, the racing version was also able to benefit from improved air flow at the front of the vehicle, as the covers of the headlights of the Corvette C5-R protruding from the body were replaced. The large radiator opening of the Corvette C6.R, which was used instead of the various small openings of the Corvette C5-R, not only served to cool the brakes, but also improved aerodynamics, while the air flowed out again at the rear of the bonnet.
Under the body, the Corvette C6.R retained a large part of the mechanics from the Corvette C5-R. The same 7-liter V8 from Katech was used but was closer to the production line of the Corvette Z06's LS7. This engine, known as the LS7.R, received the 2006 Motorsport Engine of the Year award for its performance and durability. Like the Corvette C5-R, the Corvette C6.R lacked a rear window due to the structure of the frame construction and the fuel tanks in the space behind the cockpit. Therefore, the Corvette C6.R was supplemented by a small video camera in the rear bumper and a monitor under the roof. This gave the drivers a better overview to the rear and did not have to rely on the exterior mirrors alone.
Another innovation was the air conditioning in the cockpit, which enables the drivers to better endure the high temperatures in the cockpit. This required the addition of a large vent at the rear of the vehicle as well as intake air vents built into the exterior mirrors. The Corvette C6.R also had variable cylinder deactivation. This system deactivates half of the cylinders to reduce fuel consumption while maximum power is not required. Although the system was tried out during the season, its failure at the 2007 Le Mans 24 Hours resulted in it being removed from vehicles until it could be further developed.
A total of eight Corvette C6.R were built by Pratt & Miller. A ninth vehicle, which was used for development work, was built on a Corvette C5-R chassis, but used the body of the Corvette C6.R. This vehicle was never used in races and was only used as an exhibition vehicle, which was first presented to the public next to the Corvette C6 in 2005 at the North American International Auto Show .
Racing history
Racing successes
- 2005: For the fourth time in five years, Corvette clinched a double victory in Le Mans in the GT1 class thanks to its new racing car . Every race contested by the C6.R in 2005 was won by it.
- 2006: The C6-R wins again the ALMS and for the 5th time the Le Mans GT1 series as well as the team and constructors championship again.
- 2006: The heart of the C6.R, the LS7-R engine, is crowned Global Motorsport Engine of the Year . The title was presented to GM at the Professional Motorsport World Expo 2006 in Cologne, Germany, after the jury made up of 50 of the best-known racing engineers made their decision.
- 2007: Victory in the FIA-GT 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps . Used by Carsport Holland + Phoenix Racing with the drivers Jean-Denis Delétraz , Mike Hezemans, Marcel Fässler , Fabrizio Gollin
Corvette Racing
After the Corvette C5-R withdrew at the end of the 2004 season, the Corvette Racing works team started in 2005 with two brand new Corvette C6.R. In contrast to its predecessor, which only took part in selected events until it was fast and reliable, the Corvette C6.R contested a full season in the American Le Mans Series in its first year. The season did not start as planned for Corvette Racing, however, as the new Aston Martin DBR9 from Prodrive won the season opener, the Sebring 12-hour race , thus causing Corvette Racing its first defeat since the end of the 2003 season. After the race, Prodrive returned to Europe and Corvette Racing was thus able to win all subsequent races of the season. Even when Prodrive returned in the last two races of the season, the improved Corvette C6.R continued their winning streak and won both races. The Corvette C6.R also ventured out to Europe for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Corvette Racing was able to beat the faster Aston Martin DBR9s with better reliability and clinched a one-two in its class and fifth in the overall standings and six occupied.
In 2006, Prodrive focused on the American Le Mans Series and fought a tough battle with Corvette Racing throughout the season. Corvette Racing retaliated for its defeat at the 12 Hours of Sebring last year, but Prodrive won several races as the season progressed. Both teams were very close in the points scoring throughout the season until, after the last race, Corvette Racing won the championship for the second time in a row with the Corvette C6.R with a lead of three points. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Aston Martin DBR9s again had reliability problems after leading the race, so a Corvette C6.R finished fourth in the overall standings and again won the GT1 class .
After the 2006 season, Prodrive returned to Europe to improve the Aston Martin DBR9 and prepare it for Le Mans. This meant Corvette Racing had no serious opponent in the 2007 American Le Mans Series and was the only participant in the GT1 class in nine out of twelve races of the season. Corvette Racing thus easily won the championship for the third time in a row with the Corvette C6.R. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Corvette C6.R were unable to repeat their previous successes as the Aston Martin were now more durable and could keep their pace throughout the 24 hours. The Aston Martin DBR9 took its first class win, displacing Corvette Racing to second.
In honor of the Canadian racing driver Ron Fellows , Corvette Racing fielded a third vehicle in Mosport . This vehicle featured the white and red paintwork of the Corvette Z06 "Ron Fellows Edition", a limited version of the road car to honor Fellow's involvement in Corvette Racing's racing program since its inception. Ron Fellows drove the vehicle in his home race.
In 2008 the picture in the American Le Mans Series was similar to that of the previous season. Corvette Racing was the only participant in the GT1 class in seven of eleven races and was able to decide each race for itself. The team won the championship again by a clear margin. Events were repeated at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, when the Aston Martin DBR9 narrowly beat both Corvette C6.R Corvette Racing Corvette C6.R and clinched class victory for the second time in a row.
At the beginning of the 2009 season, Corvette Racing fielded the Corvette C6.R in two races in the American Le Mans Series and withdrew its vehicles after the Le Mans 24-hour race to concentrate on the new GT2 racing program . At its final race at Le Mans, Corvette Racing once again demonstrated the potential of the Corvette C6.R when the vehicle - aided by the absence of Prodrive - achieved another class win.
Private teams
Like the Corvette C5-R, the Corvette C6.R, which had previously been used by the works team, finally came into the hands of private teams when they were replaced by newer chassis. Unlike the Corvette C5-R, the first vehicle of which was only sold to another team after four years, the Corvette C6.R was sold less than a year after its debut. Corvette Motorsport, based in Belgium, currently looks after the private teams that take part in races in Europe.
GLPK Carsport
GLPK-Carsport was founded by Belgian entrepreneurs Paul Kumpen and Toine Hezemans after a merger between PK Carsport and Carsport Holland. After a Corvette C5-R was successfully used in the FIA GT Championship in 2005, Toine Hezemans bought one of two Corvette C6.Rs that were used by Corvette Racing in the 2005 season. GLPK-Carsport added the vehicle to its racing team and replaced the Corvette C5-R in the FIA GT Championship in 2006. The driver team Bert Longin , Anthony Kumpen and Mike Hezemans drove the car for the entire season and achieved a victory at Le Castellet and third place in the 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps.
Carsport Holland
In 2007, GLPK-Carsport split again and Carsport Holland merged with Jean-Denis Delétraz and his team Phoenix Racing . With the support of Marcel Fässler and Fabrizio Gollin , Carsport Holland was able to fend off the Vitaphone Racing Team and won the Spa-Francorchamps 24-hour race. At the same time, the team achieved the first overall victory for a Corvette in a 24-hour race. Carsport Holland scored another win at Nogaro before finishing the season in fourth place in the teams 'standings and third in the drivers' standings.
In 2008, the team was supported by the main sponsor GMAC and now used a second Corvette C6.R. GLPK-Carsport achieved several pole positions and two race wins. After Marcel Fässler achieved a race win and five pole positions, he was employed by the Corvette Racing works team at the end of the 2008 season.
PK Carsport
After the splitting up of GLPK-Carsport in 2007, PK Carsport used its Corvette C5-R again before the team switched to a Saleen S7R in 2008 . In 2009, PK Carsport returned with a Corvette C6.R after the team teamed up after Carsport Holland's withdrawal from its previous partnership with Phoenix Racing. PK Carsport has already achieved two victories in the season, including the 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps, in which a Corvette C6.R has now been victorious for the second time in three years.
DKR engineering
The Belgian PSI Experience team competed in both the French GT Championship and the Le Mans Series at their first edition in 2006. The team scored a victory in the French GT Championship at Lédenon , while the best result in the Le Mans Series was a third place in the 1000km race at Spa-Francorchamps . PSI Experience also started the 24-hour race of Spa-Francorchamps, which it finished fifth. In Paul Ricard, the team competed again in the FIA GT Championship and came second behind the Corvette C6.R from GLPK Carsport.
In 2007, PSI's Corvette C6.R mainly contested the French GT Championship, while it also competed in individual rounds of the FIA GT Championship and the Le Mans 24-hour race. For the 2008 season, PSI loaned both vehicles to Dany Lallemand and Kendy Janclaes from DKR Engineering in order to set up their own team together with mechanics from PSI Experience.
In June 2009, DKR Engineering was transformed into the Sangari Team Brazil, the first Brazilian team in the FIA GT Championship. DKR Engineering continues to provide technical support. The drivers of the team that made its debut at the Spa-Francorchamps 24-hour race are Enrique Bernoldi and Roberto Streit . They achieved their first race victory in Paul Ricard.
Luc Alphand Aventures
Another customer who has already purchased a Corvette C5-R, Luc Alphand bought a Corvette C6.R to use alongside the Corvette C5-R in the 2006 Le Mans Series. There, his team received factory support from Pratt & Miller for its European racing program. As part of the factory support, Corvette Racing drivers Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta started for Luc Alphand Aventures. In 2007, the team with Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta also competed in the Spa-Francorchamps 24-hour race, where they finished in sixth place.
In the 2008 season, the team succeeded in beating Team Modena's Aston Martin DBR9 in the Le Mans Series and winning both the team and the drivers' standings. Luc Alphand decided to use his team's two cars separately, one in the FIA GT Championship and one in the Le Mans Series.
Selleslagh Racing Team
Patrick Salleslagh was the first to buy a GT Corvette when he bought a Corvette C5-R in late 2003. The Selleslagh Racing Team then won the Belgian GT Championship in 2005 and 2006 and also won the Zolder 24-hour race.
For the 2008 season, the Selleslagh Racing Team bought a Corvette C6.R and competed in the French GT Championship and the FIA GT Championship. With their victory in Monza , Christophe Bouchut and Xavier Maassen clinched their first victory in the FIA GT Championship for the team.
In the 2009 season, the Selleslagh Racing Team continued to field its Corvette C6.R in the FIA GT Championship and the French GT Championship. In the FIA GT championship, the vehicle is driven by former PK Carsport driver Bert Longin and James Ruffier . In Portimão they scored their first race win of the season.
Pratt & Miller Corvette C6RS
The Pratt & Miller Corvette C6RS is a conversion of the Corvette Z06, which is similar to the Corvette C6.R and uses parts of it. The vehicle manufactured by Pratt & Miller has an 8.2-liter V8 engine from Katech Performance and has a maximum output of 551 kW (750 hp) and a maximum torque of 1112 Newton meters. The vehicle reaches a top speed of 203 miles per hour. Production started in April 2008 and 25 vehicles had been sold by the end of the year.
Corvette C6.R GT2
On September 9, 2008, Steve Wesoloski, manager of Corvette Racing GM Road Racing Group, and Doug Fehan, manager of the Corvette Racing racing program, announced that they would only use the 2009 Corvette C6.R GT1 class in the first half of the season of the American Le Mans Series. After the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Corvette Racing is using a newly developed Corvette C6.R of the GT2 class to prepare it for the 2010 season, in which the GT classes will be restructured.
The vehicle's newly developed 6-liter V8 engine with 345 kW (470 hp) is based on the seven-liter LS7.R engine from the GT1 racing car, which develops 434 kW (590 hp). There were plans to reduce the engine to 5.5 liters for the 2010 season. The vehicle has the body of the new Corvette ZR1 road car. In contrast to the GT1 racing car with a frame made of steel and ceramic brake discs, the GT2 racing car has an aluminum frame, metallic brake discs, a smaller front splitter and a smaller rear wing.
The new GT2 race car made its racing debut at the American Le Mans Series in Mid-Ohio in 2009. Although they were competing in a new class with a new car, Jan Magnussen and Johnny O'Connell finished second in their first race and secured themselves in third race in Mosport after a long battle with the Ferrari F430 from Risi Competizione, her first class win.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Archived copy ( Memento of the original from July 15, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
