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Question: C5R racing program confusion?

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Old Sep 14, 2011 | 08:47 PM
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Default Question: C5R racing program confusion?

Is it just me, but every C5R corvette racer has been C5 coups, shouldn't they have been C5 FRC? I've looked at the photos of GM's C5Rs program and all appear to be coups. Did GM create the FRC for customers who wanted to track their car, only for GM to promote the C5R program with the basic coup model.. Talk about confused, anyone have any ideas, let them roll..
Maybe aerodynamics played a part, but they put big spoilers,

Note: On the C6 C6R GM program, the C6 model doesn't have a FRC looking body, they just have the basic top that's a solid fixed roof design over the Targa, and the fixed rook frame is aluminun not steel on the targa, so that program makes sense...
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Old Sep 14, 2011 | 09:18 PM
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My understanding is that the C5 Coupe and C5R Coupe have better aerodynamics than the FRC body style, thus the race cars have the coupe rear window styling with a fixed roof.

The production version of the FRC was to be an entry level bare bones lightweight Corvette for the true track guys and was the lead into the Z06. But the true track car never really materialized, as most folks didn't want to pay $50k for a Corvette without power seats, automatic transmission, and other goodies.
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Old Sep 14, 2011 | 09:21 PM
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First they're coupes not coups. I think it is because the coupe body style is more aerodynamic (lower coefficient of drag) than the FRC body style - a significant factor in high speed racing. IMHO
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Old Sep 14, 2011 | 09:22 PM
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In a road race, the aerodynamics come in to play and the coupe is the best in that department.
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Old Sep 15, 2011 | 02:13 AM
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My bad, I started the "coups" thing.. I can see that the aerodynamics can be a tad different, but with that big a$$ rear spoiler wing in the rear, wouldn't that offset any advantages from the coupe's glass? Remember, weight is the big factor for the C5R team, they are limited to the intake so making the C5 lighter for free HP is the plan these days. Thanks for the infor guys...Just wondering..
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Old Sep 15, 2011 | 08:53 AM
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Coupes cut through the air better.
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Old Sep 15, 2011 | 10:35 AM
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Originally Posted by Jesse Asis
My bad, I started the "coups" thing.. I can see that the aerodynamics can be a tad different, but with that big a$$ rear spoiler wing in the rear, wouldn't that offset any advantages from the coupe's glass? Remember, weight is the big factor for the C5R team, they are limited to the intake so making the C5 lighter for free HP is the plan these days. Thanks for the infor guys...Just wondering..
The TAD difference can mean the difference between winning and losing, and I'm sure the corvette race team and engineers took that into consideration. Aerodynamics is free HP.
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