C8.R Dominates the Racetrack with 3D Printed Parts
The C8.R is proving the reliability of 3D printed parts. When will they make the jump to production cars?
If you follow the Corvette racing team at all you know how well the C8.R is performing this year. The car is winning races and setting lap records along the way. It currently sits atop the GTLM standings in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Car Championship. It is an impressive feat for a brand-new racecar. However, the C8.R has a secret weapon. It actually has more like 75 secret weapons. Each C8.R is equipped with 75 3D-printed parts. Parts including the oil tank, headlight assemblies, and power steering pump bracket were all made with a 3D printer.
3D printing is not exactly new; however, it is a rapidly advancing technology. A couple years ago we reported how you could cheaply and easily make custom parts for your Corvette. Well, it is cheap if you already have access to a quality 3D printer. Chevrolet does have access to quality 3D printers, and they have been using them to create myriad parts for their racing programs. In addition to the C8.R they have 3D printed parts in their INDYCAR, Silverado race truck and NASCAR Camaro. Thus far these parts have racked up over 80,000 punishing racing miles. 8,000 of those miles have been on the C8.R.
What is the big deal about 3D printed parts? “GM’s 3D-printing capability speeds up our learning cycles and, in turn, these racetrack experiences help our additive manufacturing team move one step closer to using 3D-printed parts in production vehicles.” Said Jim Campbell, GM U.S. vice president of Performance and Motorsports. Being able to include proven 3D printed parts in production vehicles will benefit Chevy as well as the consumer. Prototyping will be faster and cheaper. It is ideal for complex, high-performance parts such as those you would expect to see on a Corvette. For example, a couple years ago Bugatti created an eight-piston monobloc brake caliper made with titanium parts on a 3D printer.
The Corvette C8.R so far this year finished first and second at Mid-Ohio, Road America and Sebring. Finished second at Road Atlanta. Took first place at VIR. Won the WeatherTech 240 at Daytona and finished fourth at the 24 hours at Daytona. In other words, the car has been dominating the track. How much can this be attributed to the 3D printed parts? It is impossible to say. However, what you can say is that the parts are certainly not slowing the car down. They do not seem to be failing or causing any type of issues. If they are robust enough to handle the rigors of racing that bodes well for production cars.
This may not seem as exciting as the latest Z06 rumors or wondering if the next ZR1 will top 1,000 horsepower. However, the parts can pave the way for some truly exotic and unique Corvette parts in the near future. Maybe Chevy may even pass on the cost savings to us, and future Corvettes will become even better bargains. Probably wouldn’t hold our breath for that, but in any event these parts do make for some exciting possibilities.
Photos: GM.com
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