Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Videos, Chevrolet, Racing



When the United SportsCar Championship kicks off at the end of the month with the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the grid will be packed with European machinery from Aston Martin, Porsche, Ferrari and more. And that's just in the GTLM class. But the contest American racing fans are likely to be watching most closely will be the showdown between the next-generation SRT Viper and Chevrolet Corvette racecars. We've already seen the Viper GTS-R which Chrysler's SRT Motorsports will be fielding in the series, but Chevrolet has just lifted the veil on the new Corvette C7.R here at the Detroit Auto Show.

The racing version of the Stingray, the C7.R was developed alongside the new Z06. It's based on a new aluminum frame that's 40-percent stronger than the C6.R it replaces, with a 5.5-liter V8 of unspecified output mounted up front routing power through a rear-mounted transmission. Though the engine (whose displacement is limited by racing regulations) is carried over from the C6.R, it now features direct injection for the first time, giving the C7.R more power, more precise throttle control and three-percent better fuel economy, an important development in endurance racing, where a single pitstop can be the difference between a race won or lost.

Aerodynamic enhancements include a forward-titled radiator, ventilation in the hood and front quarter panels, an aggressive front splitter and a giant rear wing. The Corvette racing team, however, has done away with the NACA ducts used on previous versions in favor of ducts in the rear quarter panels to cool the transaxle and differential.

As menacing as it looks here on the show floor, we'll be looking forward to seeing a pair of new C7.Rs tangle with the competition - the Viper in particular - when the Rolex 24 kicks off on January 23, not to mention the rest of the United SportsCar Championship season and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the landmark race which previous racing Corvettes have won seven times. Scope out our images in the gallery above and the video and press release below for a closer look.Continue reading Chevy Corvette C7.R ready to tackle United SportsCar Championship [w/video]

Chevy Corvette C7.R ready to tackle United SportsCar Championship [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Jan 2014 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



Permalink | Email this | Comments

More...