Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R
The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R is a GT racing car designed & built by Pratt Miller Engineering & Chevrolet to primarily compete in the LMGT3 (Le Mans GT3) and GTD & GTD Pro (Grand Touring Daytona) in the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA SportsCar Championship, respectively. The car was built to GT3 specifications and is expected to make its competitive debut at the 2024 24 Hours of Daytona.[2][3]
| Category | IMSA SportsCar Championship GTD Pro & GTD FIA World Endurance Championship LMGT3 GT World Challenge America |
|---|---|
| Constructor |  Chevrolet (Pratt Miller) |
| Designer(s) | Vlad Kapitonov |
| Predecessor | Chevrolet Corvette C8.R, Callaway Corvette C7 GT3-R |
| Technical specifications | |
| Chassis | Aluminum monocoque |
| Suspension | Double wishbone suspension |
| Length | 182.3 in (4,630 mm) |
| Width | 80.7 in (2,050 mm) |
| Height | 45.2 in (1,148 mm) |
| Wheelbase | 107.2 in (2,723 mm) |
| Engine | LT6.R[1] 5.5 L (336 cu in) 90° V8 naturally aspirated, mid-engine, flat-plane crank, longitudinally mounted |
| Transmission | Xtrac P529 6-speed sequential manual |
| Power | 500–600 hp (373–447 kW) @ 7,400 rpm |
| Fuel | TotalEnergies (WEC) VP Racing Fuels (IMSA) |
| Lubricants | Mobil 1 |
| Competition history | |
| Notable entrants | Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports TF Sport.svg.png.webp){kind=small} AWA DXDT Racing |
| Notable drivers |  Antonio García Tommy Milner Nicky Catsburg Alexander Sims |
| Debut | 2024 24 Hours of Daytona |
The car serves as the replacement to the Corvette C8.R, following the end of the GTE cars being used in racing series globally. It used the C8 generation Chevrolet Corvette as a base.[4][5]
Background
The Z06 GT3.R was launched on 27 January 2023, on the eve of the 2023 24 Hours of Daytona.[3] The reveal occurred following a two-year testing program, with virtual simulations in Chevrolet's Driver in the Loop simulator beginning in early 2021. This was followed by the car's first on-track test in September 2022, kicking off a full year of on-track development prior to customer deliveries in Q3 of 2023.[2] The car was seen testing at the Sebring International Raceway in March 2023.[6]
First news about the car's upcoming racing program(s) was revealed on June 23, 2023, with the announcement of a two-car factory supported effort in the IMSA GT Daytona Pro (GTD Pro) category, under the banner of Corvette Racing with Pratt Miller Motorsports.[7]
Five days later, on June 28, 2023, TF Sport confirmed that it would switch from Aston Martin to Corvette, aiming to field two cars in race in the new FIA WEC LMGT3 category.[8]
On 3 August 2023, the third racing program for the Z06 GT3.R was revealed, with Canadian outfit AWA switching from LMP3 class to fielding a two-car effort in IMSA GT Daytona (GTD) class for 2024 & 2025. A fourth program in GTWC America for 2024 is expected to be announced later in 2023.[9]
References
- "The C8 Corvette Z06 Engine Shares Plenty With the C8.R Race Car". Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- "Corvette Reveal New Z06 GT3.R | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
- "Chevrolet Reveals Corvette Z06 GT3.R for 2024 Competition". media.gm.com. 2023-01-27. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
- "2024 Corvette Z06 GT3 Racing Sports Car". Chevrolet. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
- "The New Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R: More Road To Race Relevance Than Ever Before From Corvette | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
- "WATCH: New Ford, Corvette GT3s On Track At Sebring (UPDATED) | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
- "GTD Pro Programme Confirmed For Corvette Racing By Pratt Miller Motorsports | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
- "TF Sport To Race With Corvette In WEC LMGT3 | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
- "AWA To Race With Corvette In IMSA GTD | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2023-08-23.