Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R: A New Era in Racing

Introduction

Chevrolet revealed the very angry and racey Corvette Z06 GT3.R ahead of its competition debut at the 2024 Rolex 24 At Daytona. The Z06 GT3.R breaks new ground for the American carmaker as it is Chevrolet’s first racecar that fully meets FIA technical regulations for GT3 cars.

Design and Development

GM’s Competition Motorsports Engineering and Pratt Miller Engineering joined forces for the design and development of the race car. The aluminum chassis frame comes from Chevrolet’s Bowling Green Assembly plant in Kentucky, while the purpose-built steel roll cage is welded onto a base plate secured to the chassis in Michigan at Pratt Miller.

Then, the race car components such as:

• Double-wishbone suspension at the front and rear
• Race spec tires wrapped around 18-inch front and rear wheels
• ACE springs and dampers
• Competition-specific rotors, calipers, and pads

Performance and Testing

The Z06 GT3.R’s virtual simulation had begun way back in 2021, with the car hitting the track in September 2022. This means that by the time it reaches customer racing teams in the third quarter of 2023, it will have had a full year of on-track development.

Powered by a 5.5-litre, flat-plane crankshaft DOHC V8 engine, the powertrain shares more than 70% of its parts with the production Z06 engine, including the:

• Crankshaft
• Connecting rods
• Cylinder heads
• Fuel injectors
• Coils
• Gaskets

What’s more, the race car also features the same front and rear suspension configuration as on the production Z06, thereby emphasizing the road to race relevance.

Expert Insights

“The Corvette Z06 GT3.R breaks new ground for Chevrolet and the Corvette Racing program,” said Mark Stielow, director of GM Motorsports Engineering Competition. “This customer-focused racecar leverages learnings from throughout Corvette Racing’s lengthy and successful history, plus the expertise of our Corvette production design, engineering, and powertrain teams.”