Chevrolet unveils its Corvette Z06 GT3.R for competition

It was on the sidelines of the 24 Hours of Daytona that Chevrolet presented its new challenger for GT3, the Corvette Z06 GT3.R which will compete in the GTD Pro category during the Florida classic in 2024.

« The Corvette Z06 GT3.R breaks new ground for Chevrolet and the Corvette Racing program, said Mark Stielow, director of GM Motorsports Engineering Competition. This customer-focused race car leverages lessons from Corvette Racing's long and successful history, as well as the expertise of our production Corvette design, engineering and powertrain teams. »

The Corvette Z06 GT3.R will feature a 8-liter DOHC flat-crank V-5,5 engine derived from the production Z06. This engine began its on-track development in 2019 with the first tests of the C8.R, before its use in the production Z06. The GT6.R's LT3 engine comes from the Performance Build Center in Bowling Green, the same line on which all production engines are built. This 5,5-liter engine shares more than 70 percent of its parts with the stock engine, including the crankshaft, connecting rods, cylinder heads, fuel injectors, coils, gaskets, and various other sensors.

« Racing continues to play a key role in the development of our production engines, said Russ O'Blenes, performance propulsion and racing team director. The C5-R through C7.R programs provided valuable lessons learned that contributed to the development of our V-8 engines for production and racing, including efficiency, materials and lightweight. The flow of information between Corvette Racing and production engineering, and vice versa, has allowed us to build racing and street engines that are fast, reliable and efficient. »

The reveal of the Z06 GT3.R follows a two-year testing program. Virtual simulation via Chevrolet's Driver in the Loop simulator began in early 2021. The first track test took place in September 2022 – meaning the Z06 GT3.R will have benefited from a full year of track development when it will be in the hands of customers in the third quarter of 2023.

« We are all very pleased with the results of the track testing program so far, said Laura Wontrop Klauser, head of GM's sports car racing program. What's even more encouraging is the correlation between the simulator sessions and what we find in real-world track testing. It’s another level of validation that gives us confidence in the development process. »

VIDEO - The Corvette Z06 GT3.R on track at Sebring