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With the C6.R winning the last two years as the ALM Champion, it's reign came to an end. Here's the C7.R running the high banks at Daytona in preparation for its first race in late January, at that location. Last time the official Corvete Race Team raced at Daytona in 2001, it not only obliterated the GT sports car class, but beat every prototype car in the field.

Here's the complete 2014 season schedule.

Jan. 25-26: Daytona International Speedway ... The 52nd running of the Rolex 24 will be perhaps the most significant sports car race in the history of North America, as the debut event for the new championship.
March 15 Sebring International Raceway ... The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring fueled by Fresh From Florida – North America's oldest sports car race – will be run for the 62nd time. ... For the first time since 1998, the Daytona and Sebring endurance classics will be part of the same series and under the same sanctioning (IMSA). ... Previously the ALMS' premier event.
April 12 Long Beach ... Longtime ALMS street race again in conjunction with IZOD IndyCar Series. ... Prototype and GT Le Mans classes will compete in one of the largest and most important consumer markets (Southern California) for nearly all TUDOR United SportsCar Championship stakeholders.
May 4 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca ... Historic Monterey, California circuit considered hallowed ground for sports car racing. ... On both series' schedules this season.
May 31: Detroit Belle Isle ... Also a companion street-race event to IndyCar. ... Will feature the Prototype, Prototype Challenge and GT Daytona classes. ... The Rolex Series has raced at Detroit the last two years; previously, the ALMS was part of the Detroit weekend. The "Motor City" is home to many of the auto manufacturers participating in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship plus numerous supplier partners.
June 29: Watkins Glen International ... The Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen endurance event in Watkins Glen, New York has been a staple on the Rolex Series schedule. ... Event started in 1968 and for many years was part of IMSA's former Camel GT Series.
July 13: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park ... Historic Bowmanville, Ontario circuit – currently amid a massive renovation project – is retained from the ALMS schedule.
July 25: Indianapolis Motor Speedway ... Brickyard Grand Prix will again join the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend for third consecutive year, with Friday-at-dusk finish. ... Previous two years was part of Rolex Series schedule.
Aug. 10: Road America ... Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin track has been on both ALMS and Rolex Series schedules. ... Hosted historic event this season when both series raced there on the same weekend.
Aug. 24: Virginia International Raceway ... Danville, Virginia track has fervent fan following and an ALMS race next month. ... Formerly part of the Rolex Series schedule. ... Event will have a combined GT Le Mans/GT Daytona race and another race featuring the Prototype Challenge class.
Sept. 20: Circuit of The Americas ... Spectacular year-old road racing facility in Austin, Texas hosted the Rolex Series in the spring this season and is hosting the ALMS and FIA World Endurance Championship this weekend.
Oct. 4: Road Atlanta ... The Petit Le Mans, traditional 10-hour or 1,000 mile ALMS season finale at the storied Braselton, Georgia road course. ... Event will retain its status as a link with the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

 

[elegant]

The latest news, thanks to CorvetteBlogger, is that the new C7.R's, still camouflaged, are testing at Sebring. Here's the best, close-up picture of the C7.R. It shows a few new details -- as there are still many layers of the camouflage to peel back. Since GM announced last week, that the Z06 is the best production Corvette as far as aerodynamics, which of the aero treatments on this car (short of the wing which we know will not be on the Z06), will make it onto the production Z06?

"We heard that the Corvette Racing team was in Sebring for a private testing session this week and now pics have emerged showing the C7.Rs in camouflage on the familiar blue/white circuit in Central Florida. It’s amazing how much the race cars resemble the production versions and I sure can’t wait to see what they can do in their inaugural race at Daytona next month.

We have to figure that not only is the car being tested, but that drivers are testing for the two endurance seats that opened up with the departure of Westbrook and Taylor to their respective full time Corvette DP rides in the Tudor USCR series.

We’ve seen some discussion regarding the red mirrors on the side of the cars. They are definitely different than their production counterparts. Any comments?"

 

[elegant]