Chevrolet will introduce a 2019 Corvette Special Edition tomorrow, but we have a picture today.
We have known for some time now that Chevrolet planned to make a “Corvette Special Edition announcement” during the festivities of the 2019 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona endurance race, but we previously didn’t know what the company would be announcing. It was expected that this special edition package would be related to motorsports and it is, or rather they are, as the 2019 Corvette Grand Sport Drivers Series is actually four different packages in one.
Chevrolet still hasn’t offered up any information, but thanks to the Daytona International Speedway app, we have the first basic details on the new Drivers Series Corvette. We spotted the image and information over at Motor Authority.
The Look
As you can see in the image above, the 2019 Corvette Grand Sport Drivers Series packages come in four different color patterns, each of which was designed by one of the four Corvette Racing drivers. This includes the Shadow Gray and red car of Oliver Gavin, the Arctic White and red car of Jan Magnusson, the Elkhart Lake Blue and silver car of Tommy Milner and the Corvette Racing Yellow and black car of Antonio Garcia.
Other features include a commemorative interior plaque that will presumably have the driver’s name and perhaps a serial number, along with “all Corvette Grand Sport equipment”, which likely means that these cars only come loaded. Fortunately, since the package itself seems to be little more than an appearance package on a loaded Grand Sport, these unique cars shouldn’t cost a whole lot more than a standard, loaded Grand Sport.
Rolex Debut
It is expected that these cars will make their formal debut tomorrow at the Corvette Experience Center inside of Daytona International Speedway. At that point, we should get all of the details including pricing and availability, but in short, it looks like the Grand Sport is going to have a quartet of appearance packages based on the tastes of the Corvette Racing endurance drivers.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
