I see plenty of guys driving in the “Brian Redman” and other Vintage Series races at Road America who are around my age or older (and I’ve been collecting SS for a couple years now) who kick *** on hots shots young enough to be they’re children or even grand children. One in particular I’m thinking of regulary runs his Benetton F1 car there and hits 200mph up the front stretch and under 1:50 lap times on the 4 mile track. Virtually identical times to his son who has a pro ride in an IMSA prototype car. Be careful about generalizing about “old guys”.

I see plenty of guys driving in the “Brian Redman” and other Vintage Series races at Road America who are around my age or older (and I’ve been collecting SS for a couple years now) who kick *** on hots shots young enough to be their children or even grand children. One in particular I’m thinking of regulary runs his Benetton F1 car there and hits 200mph up the front stretch and under 1:50 lap times on the 4 mile track. Virtually identical times to his son who has a pro ride in an IMSA prototype car. Be careful about generalizing about “old guys”.

I'm one of those “old guys” that actually tracks (road course) his car. I tracked my 2017 Z06/07 regularly and I’ve tracked my 2019 ZR1 this past season. I’m not a pro driver... it’s strictly fun for me... I’m better than some and not as good as others.

My first comment to your question is: the Corvette is NOT “a track focused car” as you stated. It is (at best) a Track “CAPABLE” car. After my experience with the Z06/07 I would argue the car was NOT really very track capable due to the unresolved heat issues myself and others continually experienced. I think the the ZR1 is VERY TRACK CAPABLE... to me it is the car the Z06 should have been (and buyers expected)... but that’s another discussion.

Corvette is a mass appeal car... selling to a wide demographic and range of buyers... male, female, young, old, rich, poor. It sells in respectable numbers BUT the vast majority are not buying the car as a track car. The majority will never track their car. Only a small percentage of owners actually track their cars and bought the car with that purpose in mind. GM is not (and should not) build the car for such a small portion of the market... it make no economic sense. They have it right... most buyers want the bragging rights (marketing and tests that shows the car is fast and can perform up with higher priced exotics) but most have no intention or desire to actually do it themselves... skill level aside. GM gives buyers exactly this. That majority buyer doesn’t care about 18” high strength racing wheels or the various tire options those wheels make available... it’s a small market and not where most buyers are interested in.

I have often thought that GM could and should have offered a more realistic “track option” version of the car... a special order, specific track oriented version... roll cage, race seats, harness, 18” track wheels, stripped down interior finish, less weight. Having said that... I’m not actually sure I’d have bought it. I probably drive my ZR1 90% of the time on street and 10% on track. One of the things I appreciate is that it’s a pleasure to drive on street and losing the nice interior finish and comfy seats would detract from those street miles. Roll cage makes entry exit more difficult... less weight would mean less sound control and noisier road driving. Do I really want to do that... for minimal track improvements?

On the other side... if I want track tires I can buy good 18” track wheels from multiple sources... so I don’t need GM to offer me their pick... I can just buy what’s important to me, if I choose to do so.

I think so few buyers would actually buy a track optioned car that it’s simply not worth it to GM to even offer this.