The future of Corvette

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by carbsmith

The frankly kind of awful engine in the back of the 911 that dominated Le Mans this year shows none of that is true.

need to say that a bop blessed semi-prototype car compensated much engine weakness

[NaBUru38]

Corvette has entered a car at the 1000 Miles of Sebring with drivers Jan Magnussen, Antonio GarcÃ*a and Mike Rockenfeller.

[Mike Bell]

I’ve no idea if the race debut of the C8 Corvette is dependent on the road car version being on sale? Just got this info regarding a delay on it’s launch, which was news to me, but may not be to others.....

https://www.hagerty.com/articles-vid...esday_March_12

[Mike E]

Corvette launch date announced. 18th July.

https://sportscar365.com/autos/mid-e...r-july-reveal/

[MaskedRacer]

Did not like that the Corvette C8 Stingray reveal was red not yellow. If I could afford a Corvette how could you NOT get a yellow one?

Would any of you consider a Corvette of any other color than velocity yellow if you could buy one? For me its hells no.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by MaskedRacer

Did not like that the Corvette C8 Stingray reveal was red not yellow. If I could afford a Corvette how could you NOT get a yellow one?

Would any of you consider a Corvette of any other color than velocity yellow if you could buy one? For me its hells no.

Did you watch the release show? It was an America and space age fest. They started the show with 2 astronauts and then went in to all the Vette and astronaut tie-in. The 3 cars driven on were red, white and blue. But I do agree think they missed the great chance to show off the racer at the same time even if they don't announce the specs, the GTE car just makes the look they wanted even more pronounced.

[carbsmith]

The C8.R and the yellow will come when the Z06 is announced, same as the C7. The C4, C5, C6, and C7 were all launched in red for the base model and the C6 Z06 dropped in velocity yellow too.

Given that the C8.R has a wildly different engine than that's in the base C8 you definitely have to hold on for the model it's actually based on.

[fieldodreams79]

The future is now & with this comparison (thanks MP), it solidifies my distaste for the new sound but whatever. Could be worse, I think.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/motorsp...ank-v-8-sound/

[chunterer]

From the myriad Daytona 24 vids I saw on Utube, the C8R GTE looks and sounds like a Ferrari 458!

Vastly different beast from any of its predecessors.

I shall miss the rumbling V8 but there's something far more stealthy and dare I say it purposeful about the new car?

[WyldStallion]

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/f...fter-25-years/

https://sportscar365.com/industry/pr...-million-deal/


That came out of nowhere seriously. Great career for Mr. Fehan. Deserves every praise possible. Will be a legend in the history of General Motors for the whole company. Not just racing.

Future could be bad or perhaps awesome with this. Worse case scenario the Corvette GT program could fall out of favor. Best case, maybe the leader will have innovative ideas. Maybe give us a P&M GT3 spec car we have been awaiting for years.

[Pandamasque]

Did he win too much or something? That headline just doesn't compute in my head.

[carbsmith]

The Corvette Racing program as it has existed for the last 20 years is basically dead in the water from a lack of anywhere to race. They either need to make a customer GT3 car for GTD and kill the race team, make the huge switch to WEC where there isn't a hugely promising future for factory Pro teams either, switch to a factory funded LMDh team that doesn't actually build their own car anyways and kill the R&D team, or say screw it. Pretty damning statement on the state of sports car racing that best managed and longest running professional sports car racing program of the current century no longer has a place in the sport.

[broadrun96]

Pratt and Miller develop many things well beyond just the race team. Those assets have a value and it sounds like everyone is moving on at the appropriate times in their life. Anything ready in the announcement more than that is what wishful thinking or pessimistic attitude. Corvette raced against itself for far longer than one season. And they can still run LM and Sebring WEC events and practice in IMSA. The idea there's no where to race is laughable at its face

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by carbsmith

The Corvette Racing program as it has existed for the last 20 years is basically dead in the water from a lack of anywhere to race. They either need to make a customer GT3 car for GTD and kill the race team, make the huge switch to WEC where there isn't a hugely promising future for factory Pro teams either, switch to a factory funded LMDh team that doesn't actually build their own car anyways and kill the R&D team, or say screw it. Pretty damning statement on the state of sports car racing that best managed and longest running professional sports car racing program of the current century no longer has a place in the sport.

Are you saying it's beyond Corvette Racing's capability to convert C8.R into a GT3 car by 2022?

[WyldStallion]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

Are you saying it's beyond Corvette Racing's capability to convert C8.R into a GT3 car by 2022?

Most certainly not. I have no knowledge of that stuff. In fact does not GT3 have no technical regulations? I actually wonder can you just BoP the C8R as it is? Perhaps there is a some road car tech specs that need to be installed. I don't know. Would love to know.

[carbsmith]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

Are you saying it's beyond Corvette Racing's capability to convert C8.R into a GT3 car by 2022?

No full blown factory teams allowed in GTD.

[joeb]

You can buy peak front engined corvette:

https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a3...0Non%20Openers

If i had a million dollars I would take it!

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by carbsmith

No full blown factory teams allowed in GTD.

Several sources suggest in 2022 GTE is to be replaced with GT3/GTD Pro for that very reason.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

Several sources suggest in 2022 GTE is to be replaced with GT3/GTD Pro for that very reason.

No, GTLM would be replaced. Yes a minor distinction but a HUGE one in this instance. GTE will not be GT3 any time soon as the ACO would rather drop GTs than allow Ratel in to the main show, hell they cried enough before letting them in the Road to LeMans Cup racing. Plus the ACO still has a decent field of GTE/AM cars to fulfill their needs so they don't really care. Unless Corvette wants to drop LM there's no need to convert the car over.

[Pandamasque]

Sorry, that was just a brain fart. Of course I meant the IMSA class where Corvette is racing.

[chernaudi]

I'd say never say never on GT3 replacing GTE at least to some extent. Patrick Peter is still an ACO big wig and GT3s are allowed to run in the ACO sanctioned European Le Mans Series. And the ACO and FIA made peace after Max Mosley left and Jean Todt replaced him.

But then again, LMP1 shows that the ACO tend to stubbornly stick to their guns with a lot of hubris even after the writing is on the wall. IMSA at least seem less stubborn here and know the writing on the wall given that no one other than Corvette Racing is willing to show up full time.

Only thing that IMSA has to do is decide to do the GTLM reset after next season, or wait for the ACO to let GTLM/GTE die and for the latter organization to face the music.

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

I'd say never say never on GT3 replacing GTE at least to some extent. Patrick Peter is still an ACO big wig and GT3s are allowed to run in the ACO sanctioned European Le Mans Series. And the ACO and FIA made peace after Max Mosley left and Jean Todt replaced him.

But then again, LMP1 shows that the ACO tend to stubbornly stick to their guns with a lot of hubris even after the writing is on the wall. IMSA at least seem less stubborn here and know the writing on the wall given that no one other than Corvette Racing is willing to show up full time.

Only thing that IMSA has to do is decide to do the GTLM reset after next season, or wait for the ACO to let GTLM/GTE die and for the latter organization to face the music.

I don't think ACO could do a lot if manufacturers will decide to drop their GTE/GTLM programs

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Only thing that IMSA has to do is decide to do the GTLM reset after next season, or wait for the ACO to let GTLM/GTE die and for the latter organization to face the music.

Before that happens ACO would just keep GTE Am. Otherwise they'll have a lot of unhappy customers with new cars on their hands.
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2020/1...gt-racing.html

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by canaglia

I don't think ACO could do a lot if manufacturers will decide to drop their GTE/GTLM programs

That's the only way we will see a change but likely hinted at years before so guys with their new toys in Am don't throw them out the pram. All bets are off if Porsche says no new RSR and we're out come 2023/4 to run LMDh. Corvette would likely follow their lead and I'm guessing Porsche and Corvette future discussions will likely occur trackside once that can occur again.

[chernaudi]

And if (or more likely when) IMSA drops GTLM as we know it and goes GTD Pro/GT3, if Corvette sticks around and decides to run a grandfathered C8R GTE/GTLM, could that be used by both IMSA and the ACO on how to BOP GT3 and GTE in both pro and am classes?