[NickJ]

​

I have it on good GMAuthority that the Corvette Racing team will begin testing on the race version of the C7.R in a matter of weeks as stated in an interview at the just before the beginning of the 2013 24 Hours at Le Mans, by Program Manager for Corvette Racing, Doug Fehan.

And from the anonymous mouth of a person who is a piece of the CR Development Team, the new "C7.R's look 'phenomenal' and 'extremely aggressive', making the current C6.R look 'dated'." With that being said, I cannot even imagine how much more aggressive the new car can look without having the driver's race suit covered in blood, and a pair of hatchets affixed to the front wings used for a bit more downforce.

There is no word on whether or not the new car will continue to use the current heavily modified 5.5 liter LS7 V8 small block that cranks out 491 hp's and 604 lb.-ft.of torques, and propels the current C6.R to the top of the heap will be retained or if they have a whole new power plant in store for the new C7.R. Either way, it will be "more aggressive" somehow. I cannot wait to see the bloodied driver and the hatchet aero pieces at the beginning of the 2014 ALMS Racing Season. Hopefully we will be able to catch a few testing pics here and there.

NJ

 

[elegant]

According to video I interview with Doug Feehan, the C7.R will run the same 5.5 L motor that the C6.R does. The rest of the car will make it a much better race car.

 

[NickJ]

This just in!!!


DETROIT — Testing on the racing-bound Chevrolet Corvette C7.R may begin as early as July, according to one Web site, although General Motors will only confirm that testing will start sometime this year.

The racing version of the 2014 Corvette Stingray is set to make its racing debut in February 2014.

GM has not released official images of the Corvette C7.R, but camouflaged teasers are expected later this year. Official photos will be released closer to the car's track debut.

GMAuthority.com said Corvette Racing Program Manager Doug Fehan said in an interview that his team will begin testing the racing-bound Corvette C7.R in July.

"We certainly will start testing the C7.R sometime this year before it will make its racing debut in February 2014," said Monte Doran, a Chevrolet spokesman, in a phone conversation with Edmunds on Tuesday.

Doran would not give specifics about what the body of the C7.R will look like, but confirmed at least one tidbit.

"Traditionally, all of these cars have been yellow," he said. "We'll stick to the same color."

Doran hinted that the look of the C7.R will please fans of the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.

"Stingray is more heavily influenced by Corvette Racing than previous generations," he said, noting that the "whole aerodynamic strategy of the Stingray" is racing-inspired.

He pointed to the production car's details, including the "orientation of the radiator, functional hood vents and rear intake for the differential cooler and transmission cooler" as evidence of its racing roots.

Doran also said it is likely that the C7.R will continue to be powered by the modified 491-horsepower 5.5-liter LS7 V8 "due to the rules of the series."

Next year, the American Le Mans Series and Grand-Am Road Racing are merging and the unified series will begin competition. The new combined series will feature most of the classes and cars from the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and American Le Mans Series. Corvette Racing currently races two wide-body C6 Corvettes in the American Le Mans Series.

Edmunds says: The Corvette C7.R is about to take a giant step closer to reality as track testing is set to get underway shortly.

 

[elegant]

Thank you. Can't wait to see the C7.R for I believe it will give us at least a few visual clues about the upcoming C7 Z06 (or whatever GM will call it).