A NASCAR Garage 56 Le Mans evolved in testing

If the season of NASCAR 2022 ended on the Phoenix oval on Sunday November 6, Team Hendrick continues its tests with a view to entering a Chevrolet Camaro Next Gen in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2023.

Mike Rockenfeller testing the VIR © NASCARG56

Head to Virginia International Raceway for this new session which started on Monday November 14, the first since the September tests at Road Atlanta. If the car now displays the layout of the famous Le Mans track on its sides, the first major technical modifications have been made to the car which retains its matte black “NASCAR Test Car” livery. 

#FBF to the #NextGen56 test car roaring through Road Atlanta.

The test was a critical starting point, but we've still got a lot of development on the road to #Le Mans. pic.twitter.com/pp6C2ZtAM5

— NASCARG56 (@nascarg56) September 9, 2022

The search for downforce seems to be at the heart of the concerns of the Hendrick Motorsports engineers. At the front, two imposing fins take place on either side of the bumper. We can guess from the holes drilled in the bodywork that a second element is planned above the one already in place. The most important modification concerns the front spoiler which adopts a curved “Nose Up” type profile in its central part. A design well known to GT manufacturers which allows air to be supplied to the underbody and the rear extractor in order to optimize its efficiency. An air release channel has also been created between the front wheels and the exhaust outlets to cause a depression generating downforce.

GT type spoiler and side fins at the front © NASCARG56

No photo of the rear extractor has been released, a sign that significant work must be carried out on this essential part and directly impacted by the improvements made to the front of the car. At the rear, two fins accompany a spoiler of larger dimensions, but in keeping with the NASCAR tradition. Finally, basic regulatory fitting, two mirrors have been installed on either side of the passenger compartment.

Fins for more support © NASCARG56

Before this session, the team had communicated about the important work carried out in the simulator in order to define a solid technical base for this Next Gen NASCAR allowing it to compete with the GTE Am, the project's benchmarks in terms of performance.

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█▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒#NextGenG56 pic.twitter.com/k3Q2Bxm78i

— NASCARG56 (@nascarg56) November 9, 2022

Jimmie Johnson, seven-time NASCAR champion with Hendick Motorsports and logically expected to take part in the adventure, took a stake in the Petty GMS. This new direction should logically keep him away from the project, but the technical links between Hendrick and GMS Petty, both Chevrolet representatives in the NASCAR Cup Series, keep the door ajar.