Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
Encyclopedia
The Chevrolet Corvette C6.R is a grand tourer
racing car built by Pratt & Miller
and General Motors
for competition in endurance racing. It is a replacement for the Corvette C5-R
racing car, applying the body style of the new C6 generation
Chevrolet Corvette
as well as improvements to increase the speed and reliability on the track. Since its debut in 2005, it has continued on from the previous dominance of the C5-R in its racing class with multiple American Le Mans Series
championships and race wins in the Le Mans Series
, FIA GT Championship
, and 24 Hours of Le Mans
.
Much of the framework of the road legal C6 was retained on the C6.R, leading to increased use of weight-saving aluminium
. The road car would also replace the C5's pop-up headlamps with permanent designs integrated into the bodywork. This meant that the racing car would have better air flow over the front of the car, doing away with their replacements for the pop-up headlamps which stuck out of the bodywork. The large grill opening on the car would also serve to eliminate the variety of openings on the C5-R to feed not only the brake cooling ducts, but also help with downforce by exiting back out the top of the bonnet.
Underneath, the C6.R retained much of the mechanical elements from the C5-R. The same Katech-built 7.0 litre V8 was used, but more closely based on the LS7
from the Z06. This engine, known as the LS7.R, would go on to earn the Global Motorsports Engine of the Year award in 2006 for its performance and endurance capabilities. Like the C5-R, the C6.R lacked a rear window due to structural framework and fuel tanks taking up the space behind the cockpit. However, an innovation on the C6.R was the addition of a small video camera into the rear bumper, and a monitor placed on the roof of the cockpit. This allowed the drivers a better view behind them, instead of having to rely on their side mirrors.
Another innovation was the use of an air conditioning
system in the car in order to help drivers better endure high cockpit temperatures. This required the addition of a large suction fan to the rear of the car, as well as intakes integrated into the side mirrors. One innovation which the C6.R debuted in 2007 was the use of variable displacement
. This system would disable half of the cylinders in the engine during caution periods in order to increase fuel economy when speed was not important. Although the system was tested during the season, its failure at the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans
led the team to remove it from the cars until it could be further evaluated.
As of the end of the 2007 season, six C6.Rs had been built by Pratt & Miller. A seventh car, used for development work, was actually built on a C5-R chassis but adapted to carry C6.R bodywork. This car has never raced and is used merely as a show car, making its public debut alongside the C6 Corvette at the 2005 North American International Auto Show
.
Following the retirement of the C5-R at the end of 2004, the factory Corvette Racing squad started 2005 with two brand new C6.Rs. Unlike the previous car, which ran only select events until it could be proven quick and reliable, the C6.Rs would compete in the full American Le Mans Series
season in their first year. The season did not begin as Corvette Racing had planned however, as the equally new Prodrive
Aston Martin DBR9
managed to win the initial event at Sebring, earning Corvette Racing their first loss since the end of 2003. Prodrive returned to Europe after Sebring, and Corvette Racing was able to earn wins in each of the succeeding races that season. Even when Prodrive returned for the final two rounds, the improved Corvettes continued their streak and won both races. The C6.Rs also ventured to Europe for the 24 Hours of Le Mans
, where the team were able to outlast the quicker DBR9s to earn a 1-2 victory in the GT1 class and finish fifth and sixth overall.
In 2006, Prodrive chose to concentrate on the American Le Mans Series, giving Corvette Racing a battle throughout the season. Corvette Racing avenged their loss at Sebring, but Aston Martin managed their own victories later in the season. The two teams were close in the points championship throughout the season, before Corvette Racing managed to earn a three-point margin in the last race and won their second straight championship. At Le Mans, the Aston Martins once again faltered with reliability problems after leading the event, allowing a Corvette C6.R to finish the race fourth overall and win the GT1 class.
Following the 2006 season, Prodrive returned to Europe to concentrate on improving the DBR9 for Le Mans. This meant that Corvette Racing was left without a major opponent in the American Le Mans Series, and in fact were the only competitors in the GT1 class for nine out of twelve races that year, and easily allowing Corvette Racing to earn their third championship. At Le Mans, the Corvettes were not able to repeat their previous success as Aston Martin was finally able to reliably maintain their pace over 24 hours and earn their first class victory, leaving Corvette Racing with second.
In order to honor Canadian driver Ron Fellows
, Corvette Racing entered a third C6.R at the Grand Prix of Mosport
. This third car was painted in white and red colors to match the Ron Fellows Edition Corvette Z06, a limited edition road car in honor of Fellows's involvement with the Corvette Racing program since its inception. Ron Fellows drove the car for his home race.
Corvette Racing plans to continue to run the C6.Rs in the early events of the 2009 American Le Mans Series season
and retire their cars at the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans
to focus on their new GT2 program.
GLPK-Carsport was formed by Belgian entrepreneur Paul Kumpen and Toine Hezemans following a merger of PK Carsport and Carsport Holland. After running the C5-R successfully in 2005, Toine Hezemans decided to buy one of the two C6.Rs used by Corvette Racing during the 2005 season. GLPK-Carsport added this chassis to their stable to replace their C5-R in the FIA GT Championship
. The driving team of Bert Longin, Anthony Kumpen, and Mike Hezemans drove the car throughout the season, and were able to score a victory at Paul Ricard
as well as a third place finish at the Spa 24 Hours
.
's Phoenix Racing to form Carsport Holland. Carsport Holland won the Spa 24 Hours
. Joined by Marcel Fässler and Fabrizio Gollin, the team was able to fend off the Vitaphone Racing
Maserati
and earn Corvette's first victory at the endurance event. Carsport Holland earned one final victory at Nogaro
before closing the season fourth in the teams' championship and third in the drivers' championship.
In 2008 the team partnered with GMAC and entered two C6.Rs and scored several pole positions and 2 race wins. After gaining one win and five pole position
s, Marcel Fässler was hired by the factory Corvette Racing squad in late 2008.
in 2008. PK Racing however returned to the C6.R chassis in 2009
, merging with Phoenix Racing following Toine Hezemans's withdrawal of Carsport Holland from their previous partnership. The team currently has 2 wins this season including the 24 Hours of Spa, Corvette's 2nd win in the race in the last 3 years.
as well as joining the Le Mans Series
during their debut in 2006. The team earned one victory at Lédenon for FFSA, while a third at the 1000 km of Spa
was their best result in the LMS. PSI also chose to enter a few FIA GT rounds, most notably the Spa 24 Hours. The team finished fifth in the event, before joining FIA GT once again at Paul Ricard
and finishing second behind GLPK-Carsport's C6.R.
For 2007, PSI's C6.R was entered mostly in FFSA GT events, while select appearances in FIA GT as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans were made. Starting in 2008, the owner of PSI loaned both of his cars to friends Dany Lallemand and Kendy Janclaes of DKR Engineering
to form their own team using PSI's mechanics. The team mostly competes in the FFSA French GT with occasional appearances in the FIA GT.
In June 2009, the team was transformed to Sangari Team Brazil, the first Brazilian team in FIA GT, to further Brazilian interest and participation. DKR Engineering stills runs the carand provides technical assistance. The drivers will be Enrique Bernoldi
and Roberto Streit
. The team made their debut appearance at the Spa 24 Hours.
They ran one car in the 2011 FIA GT1 World Championship season
with drivers Michaël Rossi
, Jaime Camara
, Dimitri Enjalbert and, for one round, Matteo Bobbi
. They ran a black livery for most of the season but in round seven they ran with the same livery used by Exim Bank Team China.
Another team who had already purchased a C5-R, Luc Alphand
's squad purchased a C6.R to run alongside their C5-R in the Le Mans Series
as the team earned factory support from Pratt & Miller for their European campaign. As part of Pratt & Miller's support of Luc Alphand, Corvette Racing drivers Oliver Gavin
and Olivier Beretta
. 2007 saw the team briefly enter in the FIA GT at the Spa 24 Hours Oliver Gavin
and Olivier Beretta
.The team managed to finish in sixth place.
For the 2008 season, the team managed to beat Team Modena's Aston Martin to the Le Mans Series
Team and Drivers Championship. Luc Alphand opted to split the teams 2 cars to race 1 in the FIA GT Championship and 1 the Le Mans Series.
The teams 2008 season consisted of entries in the FFSA French GT and the FIA GT Championship
. Winning in Monza with Christophe Bouchut
and Xavier Maassen, the scored their first ever win in the Championship. For the 2009 season, SRT campaigned their C6.R in both the FIA GT and FFSA French GT championships. Former PK driver Bert Longin was racing with the Belgian squad for the FIA GT alongside James Ruffier.
In the 2010 season, SRT compeeted in the FIA GT1 World Championship
series under the flag of the Mad-Croc Racing
.
In 2011 the SRT Corvette was entered under the Exim Bank Team China title, with drivers Mike Hezemans
and Nick Catsburg
. They managed to have a pole and podium result (3rd place) in the silverstone race.
A version running E85 ethanol was created with Jay Leno
, appeared in 2007 SEMA show. Convertible version was unveiled in 2008 12 Hours of Sebring
.
The car uses a newly designed 6.0L V8 making 470 bhp, which is based on the 7.0L LS7.R from the GT1 car (which produced 590 bhp). As part of the GT regulations for 2010, the engine would be downsized to 5.5L to comply with the new engine displacement limits. The new GT2 car takes body styling cues from the then new Corvette ZR1 street car. The car sports a new aluminum frame (the GT1 car had a steel frame), smaller front splitter and rear wing, and steel brakes (the GT1 used carbon ceramic brakes), bringing it closer to the build of the Z06 road car. Due to its 5.5L motor displacement, the car was penalized with extra weight and waivers, much to the advantage of the competing Ferrari F430 GTC, whose powerplant generated the same 500bhp but from a 4.0L V8.
The new GT2 car began its campaign in the GT2 class starting with the 2009 Mid Ohio
race. Despite competing in a new class with a new car the #3 car of Jan Magnussen
and Johnny O'Connell
took 2nd in their first race and won their third race at Mosport after a long battle with the Risi Competizione
Ferrari F430
GT.
At 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans, factory GT2 Corvettes retired after engine problems and collision with Anthony Davidson's Peugeot. Only one of four entered Corvettes - GT1 C6R of Luc Alphand Aventures - eventually finished the race, taking second place in class. This was the final year of GT1 in ACO racing. The Corvette was clocked at 182 mph down the Mulsanne Straight, which was the fastest GT car (GT1 and GT2).
For the 2011 season, the Corvette sees several performance upgrades, most notably the addition of a paddle-shift transmission. This particular car has won the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans
in the GTE-Pro category, with a Larbre Compétition
won the GTE-Am category.
Grand tourer
A grand tourer is a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving. The most common format is a two-door coupé with either a two-seat or a 2+2 arrangement....
racing car built by Pratt & Miller
Pratt & Miller
Pratt & Miller Engineering and Fabrication is a company formed by Gary Pratt and Jim Miller in 1989.Based out of New Hudson, Michigan, they have been one of General Motors official racing teams since 1999 when they were key in the development of the Chevrolet Corvette C5-R...
and General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
for competition in endurance racing. It is a replacement for the Corvette C5-R
Chevrolet Corvette C5-R
The Chevrolet Corvette C5-R is a grand touring racing car built by Pratt & Miller and General Motors for competition in endurance racing. The car is based on the C5 generation of the Chevrolet Corvette sports car, yet is designed purely for motorsports use...
racing car, applying the body style of the new C6 generation
Chevrolet Corvette C6
The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced for the 2005 model year. The current generation Corvette is the first with exposed headlamps since the 1962 model...
Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette
The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car by the Chevrolet division of General Motors that has been produced in six generations. The first model, a convertible, was designed by Harley Earl and introduced at the GM Motorama in 1953 as a concept show car. Myron Scott is credited for naming the car after...
as well as improvements to increase the speed and reliability on the track. Since its debut in 2005, it has continued on from the previous dominance of the C5-R in its racing class with multiple American Le Mans Series
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
championships and race wins in the Le Mans Series
Le Mans Series
The Le Mans Series is a European sports car racing endurance series based around the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and run by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest . The series was originally named the Le Mans Endurance Series, but changed its name prior to the 2006 season...
, FIA GT Championship
FIA GT Championship
The FIA GT Championship was a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation at the behest of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The championship was mostly concentrated in Europe, but throughout the years has visited other continents including Asia and South...
, and 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
.
Development
Having already established the C5-R as a winning car, the development of the C6.R was more of an evolution of a design rather than an all new car which required long periods of testing and design. Pratt & Miller's process was aided by the fact that, unlike the C5-R which debuted several years after the C5 generation Corvette was on the streets, the C6.R and C6 generation Corvettes would be developed at the same time. This meant that design elements which would help the race car could be adapted to the road car, allowing the C6.R to use more exotic design features but still meet homologation requirements. In turn, this meant racing elements could be adapted to the Corvette Z06 performance car, which the C6.R shares it exterior styling with.Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
. The road car would also replace the C5's pop-up headlamps with permanent designs integrated into the bodywork. This meant that the racing car would have better air flow over the front of the car, doing away with their replacements for the pop-up headlamps which stuck out of the bodywork. The large grill opening on the car would also serve to eliminate the variety of openings on the C5-R to feed not only the brake cooling ducts, but also help with downforce by exiting back out the top of the bonnet.
Underneath, the C6.R retained much of the mechanical elements from the C5-R. The same Katech-built 7.0 litre V8 was used, but more closely based on the LS7
GM LS engine
The GM LS engine family is an engine design intended as the only V-8 engine used in General Motors' line of rear-wheel-drive cars and trucks. The LS series was a "clean sheet" design with little in common with the classic Chevrolet small block V8...
from the Z06. This engine, known as the LS7.R, would go on to earn the Global Motorsports Engine of the Year award in 2006 for its performance and endurance capabilities. Like the C5-R, the C6.R lacked a rear window due to structural framework and fuel tanks taking up the space behind the cockpit. However, an innovation on the C6.R was the addition of a small video camera into the rear bumper, and a monitor placed on the roof of the cockpit. This allowed the drivers a better view behind them, instead of having to rely on their side mirrors.
Another innovation was the use of an air conditioning
Air conditioning
An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
system in the car in order to help drivers better endure high cockpit temperatures. This required the addition of a large suction fan to the rear of the car, as well as intakes integrated into the side mirrors. One innovation which the C6.R debuted in 2007 was the use of variable displacement
Variable displacement
Variable displacement is an automobile engine technology that allows the engine displacement to change, usually by deactivating cylinders, for improved fuel economy. The technology is primarily used in large, multi-cylinder engines...
. This system would disable half of the cylinders in the engine during caution periods in order to increase fuel economy when speed was not important. Although the system was tested during the season, its failure at the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans
2007 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 75th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place at the Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France from 16–17 June 2007. Four classes of cars raced together, with each class having honors for its highest finishers...
led the team to remove it from the cars until it could be further evaluated.
As of the end of the 2007 season, six C6.Rs had been built by Pratt & Miller. A seventh car, used for development work, was actually built on a C5-R chassis but adapted to carry C6.R bodywork. This car has never raced and is used merely as a show car, making its public debut alongside the C6 Corvette at the 2005 North American International Auto Show
North American International Auto Show
The North American International Auto Show is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan at Cobo Center, usually in January. It is among the largest auto shows in North America.-History:...
.
Corvette Racing
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
season in their first year. The season did not begin as Corvette Racing had planned however, as the equally new Prodrive
Prodrive
Prodrive is a British motorsport and automotive engineering group based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England. It designs, constructs and races cars for companies and teams such as Subaru, Aston Martin and Ford...
Aston Martin DBR9
Aston Martin DBR9
The Aston Martin DBR9 is a racing car built by Aston Martin Racing, debuting in 2005. The name DBR9 is derived from the original 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning DBR1 car, named for then-owner David Brown, which not only won the 24 Hour race in 1959 but also the World Sportscar title.-Development:Based...
managed to win the initial event at Sebring, earning Corvette Racing their first loss since the end of 2003. Prodrive returned to Europe after Sebring, and Corvette Racing was able to earn wins in each of the succeeding races that season. Even when Prodrive returned for the final two rounds, the improved Corvettes continued their streak and won both races. The C6.Rs also ventured to Europe for the 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
, where the team were able to outlast the quicker DBR9s to earn a 1-2 victory in the GT1 class and finish fifth and sixth overall.
In 2006, Prodrive chose to concentrate on the American Le Mans Series, giving Corvette Racing a battle throughout the season. Corvette Racing avenged their loss at Sebring, but Aston Martin managed their own victories later in the season. The two teams were close in the points championship throughout the season, before Corvette Racing managed to earn a three-point margin in the last race and won their second straight championship. At Le Mans, the Aston Martins once again faltered with reliability problems after leading the event, allowing a Corvette C6.R to finish the race fourth overall and win the GT1 class.
Following the 2006 season, Prodrive returned to Europe to concentrate on improving the DBR9 for Le Mans. This meant that Corvette Racing was left without a major opponent in the American Le Mans Series, and in fact were the only competitors in the GT1 class for nine out of twelve races that year, and easily allowing Corvette Racing to earn their third championship. At Le Mans, the Corvettes were not able to repeat their previous success as Aston Martin was finally able to reliably maintain their pace over 24 hours and earn their first class victory, leaving Corvette Racing with second.
In order to honor Canadian driver Ron Fellows
Ron Fellows
Ron Fellows is an accomplished Canadian SCCA Trans-Am, IMSA, and American Le Mans Series driver, and a NASCAR Road course ringer.-Early career:...
, Corvette Racing entered a third C6.R at the Grand Prix of Mosport
2007 Grand Prix of Mosport
The 2007 Grand Prix of Mosport presented by Mobil 1 was the ninth round of the 2007 American Le Mans Series season. It took place at Mosport International Raceway, Canada on August 26, 2007.-Official results:Class winners in bold...
. This third car was painted in white and red colors to match the Ron Fellows Edition Corvette Z06, a limited edition road car in honor of Fellows's involvement with the Corvette Racing program since its inception. Ron Fellows drove the car for his home race.
Corvette Racing plans to continue to run the C6.Rs in the early events of the 2009 American Le Mans Series season
2009 American Le Mans Series season
The 2009 American Le Mans Series season was the eleventh season for the International Motor Sports Association's American Le Mans Series. It began on March 21, 2009, and ended on October 10, 2009 after ten events. The series was composed of Le Mans Prototypes and Grand Tourer race cars divided...
and retire their cars at the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans
2009 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 77th Grand Prix of Endurance, an endurance auto race run over 24 hours. It took place at the Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France, and was organised by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest over June 13–14, 2009 and was started by Fiat and Ferrari chairman Luca...
to focus on their new GT2 program.
Privateer teams
Like the C5-R, C6.Rs which had been used by the factory team eventually ended up in the hands of privateers once they were replaced by newer chassis. Unlike before, these Corvettes were sold less than a year after they had debuted, rather than the four years it took for a C5-R to be sold to another team. Corvette Motorsport, based in Belgium, currently handles the unity of teams and media promotion for the privateers currently competing in Europe.GLPK-Carsport
FIA GT Championship
The FIA GT Championship was a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation at the behest of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The championship was mostly concentrated in Europe, but throughout the years has visited other continents including Asia and South...
. The driving team of Bert Longin, Anthony Kumpen, and Mike Hezemans drove the car throughout the season, and were able to score a victory at Paul Ricard
2006 FIA GT Paul Ricard 500km
The 2006 FIA GT Paul Ricard 500 km was the fifth race for the 2006 FIA GT Championship season. It took place on August 20, 2006.-Official results:...
as well as a third place finish at the Spa 24 Hours
2006 Spa 24 Hours
The 2006 Proximus Spa 24 Hours was the fourth race for the 2006 FIA GT Championship season. It took place on July 29 and 30 2006. It set a record for the farthest distance run since the event changed to the shorter 7 km track in 1979....
.
Carsport Holland
In 2007, GLPK-Carsport's partnership ended and Carsport Holland merged with new partner Jean-Denis DélétrazJean-Denis Deletraz
Jean-Denis Délétraz is a racing driver from Switzerland. He participated in three Formula One Grands Prix, debuting in the 1994 Australian Grand Prix, and scored no championship points during his career....
's Phoenix Racing to form Carsport Holland. Carsport Holland won the Spa 24 Hours
2007 Spa 24 Hours
The 2007 Total Spa 24 Hours was the 60th running of the Spa 24 Hours as well as the fifth round of the 2007 FIA GT Championship season. The G3 class also included cars running in the GT3 specification seen in the FIA GT3 European Championship, although this event was not part of their scheduled...
. Joined by Marcel Fässler and Fabrizio Gollin, the team was able to fend off the Vitaphone Racing
Vitaphone Racing
Vitaphone Racing is a German racing team who participate in the FIA GT Championship. The team is actually Bartels Motor & Sport GmbH but runs under the title of their primary sponsor, Vitaphone GmbH. In 2011 Vitaphone Racing was renamed Vita4One...
Maserati
Maserati
Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters is now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993...
and earn Corvette's first victory at the endurance event. Carsport Holland earned one final victory at Nogaro
2007 FIA GT Nogaro 2 Hours
The 2007 FIA GT Nogaro 2 Hours was the ninth round of the 2007 FIA GT Championship season. It took place at Circuit Paul Armagnac, France, on September 30, 2007.-Official results:...
before closing the season fourth in the teams' championship and third in the drivers' championship.
In 2008 the team partnered with GMAC and entered two C6.Rs and scored several pole positions and 2 race wins. After gaining one win and five pole position
Pole position
The term "pole position", as used in motorsports, comes from the horse racing term where the number one starter starts on the inside next to the inside pole. The term made its way, along with several other customs, to auto racing. In circuit motorsports, a driver has pole position when he or she...
s, Marcel Fässler was hired by the factory Corvette Racing squad in late 2008.
PK Carsport
Following GLPK-Carsport's split in 2007, PK Racing returned to campaigning their C5-R before switching to a SaleenSaleen
Saleen, Incorporated, commonly known as Saleen, was an American manufacturer of high-performance sports cars and high-performance automotive parts in Troy, Michigan, formerly based in Irvine, California...
in 2008. PK Racing however returned to the C6.R chassis in 2009
2009 FIA GT Championship season
The 2009 FIA GT Championship season was the thirteenth season of the FIA GT Championship for grand tourer cars competing in the GT1 and GT2 categories. The season began 3 May, and ended 25 October after eight races...
, merging with Phoenix Racing following Toine Hezemans's withdrawal of Carsport Holland from their previous partnership. The team currently has 2 wins this season including the 24 Hours of Spa, Corvette's 2nd win in the race in the last 3 years.
DKR Engineering
Belgian PSI Experience chose to concentrate their efforts on the French FFSA GT ChampionshipFFSA GT Championship
The GT Tour is a French Grand Touring-style sports car racing series that began in 1997. It is controlled by the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile and organized by racing company Oreca...
as well as joining the Le Mans Series
Le Mans Series
The Le Mans Series is a European sports car racing endurance series based around the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and run by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest . The series was originally named the Le Mans Endurance Series, but changed its name prior to the 2006 season...
during their debut in 2006. The team earned one victory at Lédenon for FFSA, while a third at the 1000 km of Spa
2006 1000km of Spa
The 2006 1000km of Spa was the second race of the 2006 Le Mans Series season run by the ACO. It was run on May 14, 2006-Official results:Class winners in bold...
was their best result in the LMS. PSI also chose to enter a few FIA GT rounds, most notably the Spa 24 Hours. The team finished fifth in the event, before joining FIA GT once again at Paul Ricard
2006 FIA GT Paul Ricard 500km
The 2006 FIA GT Paul Ricard 500 km was the fifth race for the 2006 FIA GT Championship season. It took place on August 20, 2006.-Official results:...
and finishing second behind GLPK-Carsport's C6.R.
For 2007, PSI's C6.R was entered mostly in FFSA GT events, while select appearances in FIA GT as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans were made. Starting in 2008, the owner of PSI loaned both of his cars to friends Dany Lallemand and Kendy Janclaes of DKR Engineering
DKR Engineering
DKR Engineering is a racing team and preparation firm from Luxembourg, currently competing in the FIA GT1 World Championship. The company was founded in 2004 by Kendy Janclaes as a branch of the PSI Experience racing team from Belgium. After running PSI's racing programs, DKR began their own...
to form their own team using PSI's mechanics. The team mostly competes in the FFSA French GT with occasional appearances in the FIA GT.
In June 2009, the team was transformed to Sangari Team Brazil, the first Brazilian team in FIA GT, to further Brazilian interest and participation. DKR Engineering stills runs the carand provides technical assistance. The drivers will be Enrique Bernoldi
Enrique Bernoldi
Enrique Antônio Langue e Silvério de Bernoldi is a Brazilian racing driver who raced for the Arrows Formula One team...
and Roberto Streit
Roberto Streit
Roberto Streit is a Brazilian racing driver.-Formula Renault:2001 saw Streit debut in Formula Chevrolet Brazil. His first season was a very successful one, with Streit dominating the championship and winning the title comfortably...
. The team made their debut appearance at the Spa 24 Hours.
They ran one car in the 2011 FIA GT1 World Championship season
2011 FIA GT1 World Championship season
The 2011 FIA GT1 World Championship season was the second season of the SRO Group's FIA GT1 World Championship, an auto racing series for grand tourer cars complying with Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile GT1 regulations. The championship comprises two titles: GT1 World Champion for...
with drivers Michaël Rossi
Michaël Rossi
-Career:After racing in karting, Rossi raced in the Championnat de France Formula Renault 2.0 in 2006 driving for both SG Formula and Hexis Racing. However he only scored one point in 11 races, placing him 21st in the standings....
, Jaime Camara
Jaime Camara
Jaime Camara is a Brazilian race car driver, who most recently competed in the IndyCar Series for Conquest Racing.-Indy Racing League:...
, Dimitri Enjalbert and, for one round, Matteo Bobbi
Matteo Bobbi
Matteo Bobbi is an Italian racing driver with experience in several motor sport categories, including three years as a Minardi test driver in Formula One....
. They ran a black livery for most of the season but in round seven they ran with the same livery used by Exim Bank Team China.
Luc Alphand Aventures
Luc Alphand
Luc Alphand is a French former alpine skier and race car driver.- Skiing :Born in Briançon , Alphand made his World Cup skiing debut in 1984...
's squad purchased a C6.R to run alongside their C5-R in the Le Mans Series
Le Mans Series
The Le Mans Series is a European sports car racing endurance series based around the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and run by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest . The series was originally named the Le Mans Endurance Series, but changed its name prior to the 2006 season...
as the team earned factory support from Pratt & Miller for their European campaign. As part of Pratt & Miller's support of Luc Alphand, Corvette Racing drivers Oliver Gavin
Oliver Gavin
Oliver Benjamin Gavin , is a GM factory racing driver from the United Kingdom. He was raised in the village of Felmersham, Bedfordshire. He attended the local Primary school, Pinchmill. At age nine he attended Lincroft Middle School and then took his GCSEs and A-levels at Sharnbrook Upper School...
and Olivier Beretta
Olivier Beretta
Olivier Beretta is a racing driver from Monaco who raced in Formula One in 1994 for the Larrousse team, partnering Érik Comas. He participated in 10 grands prix, debuting on March 27, 1994. He scored no championship points, and was replaced when his sponsorship money ran out...
. 2007 saw the team briefly enter in the FIA GT at the Spa 24 Hours Oliver Gavin
Oliver Gavin
Oliver Benjamin Gavin , is a GM factory racing driver from the United Kingdom. He was raised in the village of Felmersham, Bedfordshire. He attended the local Primary school, Pinchmill. At age nine he attended Lincroft Middle School and then took his GCSEs and A-levels at Sharnbrook Upper School...
and Olivier Beretta
Olivier Beretta
Olivier Beretta is a racing driver from Monaco who raced in Formula One in 1994 for the Larrousse team, partnering Érik Comas. He participated in 10 grands prix, debuting on March 27, 1994. He scored no championship points, and was replaced when his sponsorship money ran out...
.The team managed to finish in sixth place.
For the 2008 season, the team managed to beat Team Modena's Aston Martin to the Le Mans Series
Le Mans Series
The Le Mans Series is a European sports car racing endurance series based around the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and run by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest . The series was originally named the Le Mans Endurance Series, but changed its name prior to the 2006 season...
Team and Drivers Championship. Luc Alphand opted to split the teams 2 cars to race 1 in the FIA GT Championship and 1 the Le Mans Series.
Selleslagh Racing Team
Patrick Selleslagh became the very first customer Corvette team after purchasing a C5-R chassis in late 2001. SRT has gone on to win several Belcar Championships including 2005, with five victories and also in 2006 where they scored another win in the Zolder 24 hours after victory in 2005.The teams 2008 season consisted of entries in the FFSA French GT and the FIA GT Championship
FIA GT Championship
The FIA GT Championship was a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation at the behest of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The championship was mostly concentrated in Europe, but throughout the years has visited other continents including Asia and South...
. Winning in Monza with Christophe Bouchut
Christophe Bouchut
Christophe Bouchut is a French race driver. He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1993. He currently drives in the FIA GT1 World Championship...
and Xavier Maassen, the scored their first ever win in the Championship. For the 2009 season, SRT campaigned their C6.R in both the FIA GT and FFSA French GT championships. Former PK driver Bert Longin was racing with the Belgian squad for the FIA GT alongside James Ruffier.
In the 2010 season, SRT compeeted in the FIA GT1 World Championship
FIA GT1 World Championship
The FIA GT1 World Championship is a world championship sports car racing series developed by the SRO Group and regulated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . It features multiple grand tourer race cars based on production road cars and conforming with the GT1 regulations competing in...
series under the flag of the Mad-Croc Racing
Mad-Croc Racing
Mad-Croc Racing was an auto racing team that competed in the FIA GT1 World Championship. It was formed as the result of a collaboration between the Belgian Selleslagh Racing Team and DKR Engineering of Luxembourg. The team took its name from the Mad-Croc brand of energy products that sponsored the...
.
In 2011 the SRT Corvette was entered under the Exim Bank Team China title, with drivers Mike Hezemans
Mike Hezemans
Mike Hezemans is a professional racecar driver from the Netherlands. He was born in Eindhoven in 25 July 1969 and is son of Toine Hezemans.Hezemans has been a regular driver in the FIA GT Championship since its inception in 1997, having also driven for its predecessor series, the BPR Global GT Series...
and Nick Catsburg
Nick Catsburg
Nick Catsburg is a Dutch racing driver. He is currently racing in the FIA GT1 World Championship for Exim Bank Team China.-Career:...
. They managed to have a pole and podium result (3rd place) in the silverstone race.
Pratt & Miller C6RS
It is a conversion of Corvette Z06 that resembles C6.R and shares components with the race car, produced by Pratt & Miller. It uses Katech Performance 8.2L engine rated 600 horsepower and 600 lb-ft torque. The car has top speed of 202 mph. The production began on April 2008. 25 were produced in the first year.A version running E85 ethanol was created with Jay Leno
Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno is an American stand-up comedian and television host.From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ,...
, appeared in 2007 SEMA show. Convertible version was unveiled in 2008 12 Hours of Sebring
12 Hours of Sebring
The 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race for sports cars held at Sebring International Raceway, a former Army Air Force base in Sebring, Florida...
.
Corvette C6.R GT2
On September 9, 2008 Corvette Racing GM Road Racing Group manager Steve Wesoloski and Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan announced that for the 2009 ALMS season they would be running the C6.R in the GT1 class for only the first half of the season. After the 24 hours of Le Mans, Corvette Racing will be running a newly designed C6.R in the GT2 class in preparation for the 2010 season's newly designed GT class regulations.The car uses a newly designed 6.0L V8 making 470 bhp, which is based on the 7.0L LS7.R from the GT1 car (which produced 590 bhp). As part of the GT regulations for 2010, the engine would be downsized to 5.5L to comply with the new engine displacement limits. The new GT2 car takes body styling cues from the then new Corvette ZR1 street car. The car sports a new aluminum frame (the GT1 car had a steel frame), smaller front splitter and rear wing, and steel brakes (the GT1 used carbon ceramic brakes), bringing it closer to the build of the Z06 road car. Due to its 5.5L motor displacement, the car was penalized with extra weight and waivers, much to the advantage of the competing Ferrari F430 GTC, whose powerplant generated the same 500bhp but from a 4.0L V8.
The new GT2 car began its campaign in the GT2 class starting with the 2009 Mid Ohio
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a road course auto racing facility located in Troy Township, Morrow County, Ohio, United States, just outside of the village of Lexington...
race. Despite competing in a new class with a new car the #3 car of Jan Magnussen
Jan Magnussen
Jan Magnussen is a racing driver from Denmark and a GM factory driver. He has competed in several of the most prestigious events in motor sport including CART, NASCAR, the FIA Formula One World Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.- Lower series racing :Magnussen dominated the 1994 British...
and Johnny O'Connell
Johnny O'Connell
Johnny O'Connell , is a GM factory racecar driver from United States, currently residing in Flowery Branch, Georgia...
took 2nd in their first race and won their third race at Mosport after a long battle with the Risi Competizione
Risi Competizione
Risi Competizione is an American auto racing team formed by Giuseppe Risi in 1997. Initially a partnership with Doyle Racing using the name Doyle-Risi Racing, Giuseppe Risi took full control of the project and it was rebranded with its current name in 2000...
Ferrari F430
Ferrari F430
The Ferrari F430 is a sports car that was produced by the Italian automaker Ferrari from 2004 to 2009, as a successor to the 360. It debuted at the 2004 Paris Motor Show...
GT.
At 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans, factory GT2 Corvettes retired after engine problems and collision with Anthony Davidson's Peugeot. Only one of four entered Corvettes - GT1 C6R of Luc Alphand Aventures - eventually finished the race, taking second place in class. This was the final year of GT1 in ACO racing. The Corvette was clocked at 182 mph down the Mulsanne Straight, which was the fastest GT car (GT1 and GT2).
For the 2011 season, the Corvette sees several performance upgrades, most notably the addition of a paddle-shift transmission. This particular car has won the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans
2011 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 79th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 11–12 June 2011 at the Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France, and organised by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest...
in the GTE-Pro category, with a Larbre Compétition
Larbre Compétition
Larbre Compétition is a French auto racing team founded in 1988 by Jack Leconte. Based at the Circuit du Val de Vienne in La Vigeant, Larbre has had considerable success in the Porsche Carrera Cup, French GT Championship, and international FIA GT Championship...
won the GTE-Am category.