Spy shots of Corvette C8.R test car show massive side vents for cooling the mid-mounted engine.
Corvette Racing plans to continue running the C7.R at tracks around the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s not hard at work on developing a Chevrolet Corvette C8.R race car for future competitions. Just take a look at these spy photos snapped at Road America.
Although the development mule is covered in whirly swirly camouflage, its prominent lines are easy to make out. Its low nose, swoopy roof, and pronounced haunches scream out “mid-engined car.” The giant angular scoops cut into the sides make it clear that their job is to route a lot of air to a power plant behind the passenger compartment. Judging by the looks of the giant rear wing, the C8.R should be able to generate enough downforce to race its competitors in a tunnel upside down (given the C7.R’s string of successes, the eventual C8.R would probably win those races).
According to a recent post from Corvette Blogger, “Corvette Racing’s program manager Doug Fehan often talks about cascade engineering, meaning that each generation of street car improves the next race car, which in turn improves the next generation street car.”
We may be looking at a ‘roided-up race car version of the upcoming C8, but don’t let its tires and exaggerated add-ons fool you. The basic fast lines are there. Just as the fundamental design of the C7 didn’t look wildly different from that of the C7.R, the C8 should be a sculpted, taut stunner, just like its race car sibling. And based on these pics, we can also see the C8 turning out to be something else: compared to and pitted against the Acura NSX, both on the road and the track.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
