Based on the road-going Z06, it uses an engine derived from the 5.5-liter flat-plane crank V-8.
Chevrolet
Chevrolet revealed details of its newest Corvette race car, the Z06 GT3.R, on Friday, one year ahead of its race debut at the 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
The Z06 GT3.R was designed in collaboration between GM’s internal motorsports division and Pratt Miller Engineering, the firm responsible for designing all prior generations of factory Corvette race cars. With the GTLM category retired, Corvette Racing will be moving into the GT3 category racing in GT Daytona (GTD) Pro category at the start of 2024’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Unlike prior factory Corvette race cars, the Z06 GT3.R borrows more heavily from the road-going Z06. The basic chassis underpinnings come from the same Bowling Green, Kentucky assembly line, while the suspension is double-wishbone front and rear, just like the road car.
The 5.5-liter naturally aspirated V-8 engine, too, is mostly from the Z06 road car. Chevy says it comes straight from the same assembly line, and uses over 70 percent of the same parts, including the crankshaft, connecting rods, cylinder heads, fuel injectors, coils, and gaskets.
The Z06 GT3.R is currently undergoing a two-year testing cycle, according to Chevrolet. The car ran its first on-track test in September 2022, with plenty more testing to come before first deliveries to customers begin in the third quarter of 2023. The company is planning to expand its customer program to provide support, including parts, race strategy, and fuel management, at all major events in North America through 2024, with international support coming later on.
“The Corvette Z06 GT3.R breaks new ground for Chevrolet and the Corvette Racing program,” director of GM Motorsports Engineering Competition Mark Stielow said in a statement. “This customer-focused race car leverages learnings from throughout Corvette Racing’s lengthy and successful history, plus the expertise of our Corvette production design, engineering and powertrain teams.”
Corvette Racing plans to field “up to” four Z06 GT3.R entries with a mix of GTD Pro and GTD teams in the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, starting with Daytona.
Brian Silvestro Road & Track staff writer with a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing.
Keyword: The 2024 Z06 GT3.R Is the New Face of Corvette Racing