Corvette 2012 ZR1/C6.R – 2012

Having dominated the American Le Mans Series in the GT1 category almost from the very start with the Corvette C6.R, the Chevrolet racing department decided in 2008 to comply with the new FIA/ACO regulations which, from 2011, would eliminate this category. The department turned its attention to GT2, which would later become GTE, while developing a new, ‘simplified’ version of the car.

The move from GT1 to GT2/GTE was somewhat of a step backwards, as these cars were derived from production models and were allowed fewer modifications than GT1 cars. The regulations impose a maximum length of 4.80 metres ( a length that the Corvette is well within), less sophisticated structure and mechanics, and an engine capacity of less than 5.5 litres or 4 litres with supercharging, the C6.R GT2 resembles the road model from which it is derived, the ZR1, in particular at chassis level. The car was equipped with a V8 engine with a reduced displacement of 6 litres but capable of delivering nearly 500 hp (the GT1 had a 7-litre engine with nearly 600 hp), with which it made its debut during the final race of the 2009 American Le Mans Series, achieving several good results. The car finished sixth at the Canadian circuit of Mosport, where it also won its class. The following year, fitted with a new 5.5-litre, 500 hp small block engine, it claimed another class victory in the Petit Le Mans series at Road Atlanta.

The 2011 season is marked by the introduction of the new GTE formula, divided into the GTE Pro and GTE Am categories, which are defined not according to the characteristics of the cars, but according to the drivers.

The Corvette Racing team competed in the Pro category, whilst the Am category, in which two or three drivers compete, one of whom must be in the Silver (non-professional) category, was entrusted to the French team Larbre Compétition. During its first participation, in the trials at the Sebring circuit, one of the C6.R cars triumphed in the GTE Pro category. However, no significant results were achieved in the subsequent 12 Hours of Sebring. The next attempt took place during the Le Mans trials, where Olivier Beretta, Jan Magnussen, Tommy Milner and Olivier Gavin finished 38th but first in GTE Am. In June, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Corvette Racing team entered two cars, one with Olivier Beretta, Tommy Milner and Antonio Garcia, finishing eleventh overall and first in GTE Pro, while the second car, entrusted to Larbre Compétition, finished twentieth, beating the GTE Am with Patrick Bornhauser, Julien Cabal and Gabriele Gardel.

The following year, the Portuguese driver Pedro Lamy replaced Gardel, but the result was the same: the car of the French team once again finished in 20th place, but first in its category, having beaten by one lap the Porsche 997 GT3 RSR driven by Anthony Pons, Nicolas Armindo and Raymond Narac, racing for the IMSA Performance Matmut team. The Corvettes were beaten in GTE Pro by the Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 and Aston Martin Vantage GTE cars, while the best Corvette, driven by Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen and Jordan Taylor, finished only 23rd.