C7.R Starts Countdown to Sebring 12 Hours

The Corvette C7.R is revving up to leave its own mark in racing’s history books.

After much anticipation, the new racecar will make its first run at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring this weekend, America’s oldest and most challenging sports car race. Widely considered as the spiritual birthplace of the modern-day Corvette Racing program, the Sebring 12 Hours was the very first place a Corvette raced back in 1956.

Now, nearly six decades later, the Corvette Racing team will shoot for its ninth class win at Sebring since 2002. The new C7.R will be racing in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

“Sebring is one of the toughest race tracks in the world,” said Mark Kent, Chevrolet’s Director of Racing, as quoted by Motor Sport. “Corvette Racing’s success in the 12 Hours is a testament to the preparation and work ethic of the team at Chevrolet Racing, Pratt & Miller and GM Powertrain. Winning Sebring once is an incredible accomplishment, and doing so eight times is nothing short of remarkable. We are confident the new Corvette C7.R — with its improved handling, stability and efficiency — can help add to that record at Sebring.”

The team is betting the C7.R’s improved racing enhancements like a new aluminum frame that’s 40 percent stiffer than the C6.R, the direct-injected engine, and advanced aerodynamics will give them an edge.

I’ll certainly be watching.