Chevrolet C6.R is a racing version of the C6 generation Chevrolet cars. General Motors collaborated with Pratt and Miller to make the Chevrolet Corvette a dominant car in the racing circuits. It replaced the equally stunning Corvette C5-R. The Chevrolet C6.R is a definition of improving technology. It showcased the importance of technology for Chevrolet. Improved reliability along with the performance, made its debut in the 2005 American Le Mans Series. The Chevrolet Corvette C6.R is a priced creation of General Motors. It took first place in multiple races including the Le Mans Series, FIA GT Championship, and even the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Two Versions
There are two versions of the Corvette C6.R. What made the machines differ from each other is the power of their engines. The GT1 version of the Corvette C6.R is a 600 horsepower machine while the GT2 version carries a less powerful version than the first one. The GT2 version runs on a 470 horsepower engine.
Challenge
When cars win races, this becomes a challenge for the manufacturers to outperform their past designs. The C5-R is a winning car which means that the Chevrolet Corvette C6.R has a lot of things to prove. But of course, there is also the marketability aspect of building a car. The Corvette C5 is a car that easily transitioned on the streets. For the Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, the challenge is to make this racing car turn into a road car.
Having an aluminum body design, the C6.R is a lightweight vehicle that can easily be powered by its engine. For the road car version of the Corvette, the manufacturers managed to adapt the weight-saving aluminum body.
Innovation
One of the biggest secrets of the Chevrolet Corvette in winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans is delivering comfort to its drivers. In fact, the company included the air conditioners in the race car to provide the best comfort for their driver during the endurance race. This makes sense as the body is lightweight. The additional weight brought by the air conditioning parts will still be tolerable and, therefore, not hamper the performance of the vehicle.
Road Car Variation
The road car variant of the C6.R is the Chevrolet Z06 or better known as the C6. In 2008, the C6 received new engines thanks to the GM LS3 design. The LS Engine family is a powerful V8 engine used not only for cars but also for trucks.
This simply means that the road car is just as powerful as the race car on the circuit. The LS engine was created by different experts including Buick, Oldsmobile, and Ed Cole’s initial draft of the engine.
So what makes a winning car? A winning car is not just about outperforming the rest. It is also a car that provides comfort to the racer. This was proven by the Chevrolet Corvette C6.R as it becomes one of the few race cars to include an air conditioning unit on their design. Considering the fatigue factor that can affect decision making, it is a simple yet neglected part of race car design.