Corvette Racing Series Episode 8: Cascade engineering
Take a look at the inner workings of Corvette Racing’s engineering staff to learn how they continually refine the Corvette for optimal performance.
Take a look at the inner workings of Corvette Racing’s engineering staff to learn how they continually refine the Corvette for optimal performance.
Celebrating the 50th running of the Chevrolet Corvette at Le Mans, utmost anticipation set the stage for a historic running of the 24 hour race.
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1979 wide-body Corvette designed by Corvette racing legend John Greenwood. Black Beauty with red interior and desirable L82. Mirror finish black paint against red leather. Loaded with options including the performance L82 motor, matching numbers and completely stock engine, transmission and interior with less than 18,200 original miles, down to the original factory AM/FM player. Motor compartment is detailed and fully serviced. The 235/60R15 BFGoodrich tires are brand new, all the rubber is brand new, and the glass and trim are very good. Additional options and accessories include glass tops, power disc brakes, power steering, aluminum wheels, polished aluminum valve covers, spoiler integrated to the body, wide fenders, side air vents, power windows, power antenna, tilt telescopic wheel, air conditioning, rear defog and cruise control.
GeigerCars.de GmbH – Corvette Grand Sport
The name “Grand Sport” is entrenched in the racing history of the Chevrolet Corvette. Now, for the 2010 model year, there is a new edition that evokes memories of the racecars of the seventies – and Geigercars.de has already given these rockets an additional performance upgrade.
With the LS3 V8 under the bonnet, and the corresponding 430 hp and 575 Nm in torque, the Grand Sport is certainly not short of legs when it leaves the factory. But why be satisfied with production line performance, when tuning specialist Geigercars.de can give you something more? Thanks to the Munich pros, a supercharger with a fat 2.3 litres capacity sits on top of the eight-cylinder engine, which itself exhibits a volume of 6.2 litres. The result is a growth in the power of the Corvette to an immense 588 hp at 6,490 rpm, and torque of 738 Nm at 4,030 rpm. This ultimate sports car negotiates the sprint to 100 km/h in less than four seconds from contact, and it’s not until reaching 337 km/h that the Geigercars.de rocket is forced to relent to wind resistance.
The Grand Sport impresses both aesthetically and technically, with wider front and rear fenders with additional vents, to accommodate the larger brakes of the sister model Z06 with its 355 mm, six-cylinder discs at the front axle, and 340 mm, four-cylinder discs at the rear. The front diffuser and larger rear spoiler are also borrowed from the engineers of the Corvette Z06. Sway bars, shock absorbers and springs have also been overhauled in addition to the six-speed transmission, while a dry sump oil system and differential cooler are also on board. The battery of the Grand Sport has been relocated to the rear. Optimum road contact is guaranteed by the 18 and 19 inch light alloy rims, with 275/35 and imposing 325/30 tyres.
Amid all the excitement that surrounds the 12 Hours of Sebring, the team suffers a setback in pit row.
Jan Magnussen in the #3 car began leaving his pit box after an unscheduled stop to repair a power steering hose when Emmanuel Collard in the #4 Vette came out of nowhere and slammed into his side. The #4 car immediately went behind pit wall for repairs, but since the #3 car was already leaving the pits, it was forced to limp around an entire lap with a flat front tire before returning for repairs. The collision effectively took both Corvettes out of contention for a podium spot, though they did manage to finish the race in 8th and 9th place.
In the first of twelve episodes, Corvette Racing shares a behind-the-scenes look at the team’s preparations for the 12 Hours of Sebring, the start of the 2010 ALMS season. The team is clear about one thing: amid tough competition, they remain focused on winning.
Look at this perfect muscle car – the Z06 Carbon was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first appearance of the Corvette at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was the time when Briggs Cunningham and John Fitch won their class. The Carbon edition is actually a Vette Z06 with a ZR1 chassis with carbon skin. Only 500 examples will be made in only two colors – Inferno Orange and Supersonic Blue. But check out the official press release for more information:
2011 CORVETTE Z06 CARBON LIMITED EDITION
Taking track-to-street technology to a new level
DETROIT — When the 2006 Corvette Z06 was introduced, it represented the closest connection to the Corvette race cars ever. The 2009 Corvette ZR1 closed the gap between racing and production even further. This year, Corvette continues its tradition of track-to-street technology transfer with the 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition.
“Designed to further incorporate technology developed through racing, the Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition is a tribute to the 50th anniversary of Corvette’s first race in the 24 Hours of LeMans,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet General Manager. “With a limited production of 500 units, this car is a must-have for the true Corvette collector and driving enthusiast.”
Chevrolet Corvette. Let’s start with the fact that last year, Ed Welburn, GM’s vice president of global design, invited GM’s 10 styling studios to submit design proposals and some of the results were “absolutely phenomenal”. He also added – “There is a lot to pick from. The direction that we take is very important, and the decision has not been made.”
Obviously this move from GM are aimed to attract buyers in Europe, where the car has little appeal, and young U.S. buyers. According to The Power Information Network, the current average age of a Corvette buyer is 54. Critics says it looks big with a cheap-looking interior. Welburn agrees with the interior “problem” – “The execution, materials selection–it’s got to be a much better interior. Our customers desire that.” And we’ll add what industry says – a redesign is due in two to three years.
Welburn compares today’s Corvette with Porsche 911 – they are about the same size, but the styling makes it look larger. Let’s cite Welburn again – “We have to develop a design that feels trimmer, meaner, to go along with the incredible performance that the car has.” He also intended it’s about time for development of the Corvette, but the new Corvette can’t be so far away in concept than today’s Corvette.
Members of Corvette Racing share their passion for racing and what it means to represent Corvette in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). Featured in the video are Mark Kent, manager, GM Racing, Gary Pratt, chief engineer and co-founder of Pratt & Miller engineering, and Doug Fehan, program manager, Corvette Racing. This is a preview of what to expect from the Corvette Racing Team as they document the ALMS season in their upcoming video series.
After we presented you an interview with Doug Fehan, and the upcoming challenge for the Corvette C6R at The 24 Hours of Le Mans, we wanted to present you live image of this beautiful racing muscle car – The Chevrolet Corvette C6R GT2.
The shot above was snapped at the garages of Pratt & Miller, the racing outfit contracted by GM to develop and run the racing Corvettes. As we can see, the color scheme is the same black and yellow, but the 2010 C6R has sharper paint job.
The bodywork is built based on an aluminum frame – for instance – the GT1′s frame is made of steel. The brakes are made of steel, too. The power unit of the muscle car is a downsized 5.5-liter V8.
We all hope that the Corvette Racing team is going to beat the competition, dominated by Ferraris and Porsches.
Official Press Release:
Scottsdale, Ariz. – Earthquake relief efforts in Haiti will receive all proceeds from the auction of a limited edition 2008 Chevrolet Corvette at this weekend’s 39th annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction.
The proceeds, which will be donated to the American Red Cross relief fund, are in addition to a $100,000 contribution from the GM Foundation to the Red Cross.
“This is a very good example of the compassion GM employees have,” said Ed Welburn, Vice President of GM Design. Welburn will call the vehicle to the stage to start the bidding process at the event.