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I was reading this article today about the C8.R: C8.R Article
Among other things, it had this to say: Further clues lie in the FIA GTE class homologation requirements that shaped the Corvette C8.R. The rules state that the “engine must be derived from a series production engine produced at more than 300 units and fitted to a series vehicle from the same manufacturer,” which basically means that the C8.R engine will almost definitely be used – in one form or another – in the Corvette C8 street car. The most obvious pick for those duties would be the C8 Z06.
So, if 300 units of a production version of this engine must be sold before it can be raced, then it seems that they will have to sell the Z06 in 2020 in order to race it in that year. Is that correct? If there is no Z06 in 2020, then they can't race the C8.R until the time comes when they actually do sell Z06's. This can't be right. There must be a way around this. Maybe a promise to sell the Z06 with this engine soon is good enough.
Homologation rules in IMSA and WEC are quite liberal in their interpretations...
BMW raced an engine that wasn't available in that car for 2+yrs and Porsche's 911's were allowed to move the engine centerline which basically changed them to a mid-engine configuration even though their street cars are decidedly rear engined.
I would expect the flat plane crank V8 that most are speculating about in the C8.R will come out, eventually (time revealed to IMSA ?) to allow it in 2020 Daytona.
Unfortunately, no factory Ford GT's to beat next yr !
C8.R should be a beast !
I think Ford raced the GT for two years before any road cars were delivered to customers, so I would say that there is some flexibility in the rules.
Since GM has to use this engine in a production car at some future point, it will be interesting to pick up tidbits of information here and there with the thinking that we will see some incarnation of it in the Z06.
As a general guide I subscribe to the idea the C8Z06 will have 30-50 more HP than the C7Z06. So my question/challenge to this article and line of thinking is: Can you get 680-700 HP out of an NA 5.5 liter (whatever crank) for normal day to day driving?
As a general guide I subscribe to the idea the C8Z06 will have 30-50 more HP than the C7Z06. So my question/challenge to this article and line of thinking is: Can you get 680-700 HP out of an NA 5.5 liter (whatever crank) for normal day to day driving?
The Z06 engine doesn't have to be NA if the race car is.
The Z06 engine doesn't have to be NA if the race car is.
Indeed and that is why I am challenging my interpretation of the article main conclusion:
Put it all together, and it’s very likely that the Corvette C8.R is powered by a new, naturally-aspirated 5.5L DOHC V8 engine with a flat-plane crank. Meanwhile, a street-legal variant of this very engine will most likely see street use in the C8 Z06.
I interpret this to say the street variant will be NA. I guess they could have added the word boosted variant....
Just IMHO, I actually think Corvette may continue the S/C legacy... and they'll pitch it as "we are ducking the trends"... like they did for the LT2...
Edit: But maybe S/C is not compatible with ME configurations...?
Last edited by Telepierre; Oct 7, 2019 at 04:22 AM.
As a general guide I subscribe to the idea the C8Z06 will have 30-50 more HP than the C7Z06. So my question/challenge to this article and line of thinking is: Can you get 680-700 HP out of an NA 5.5 liter (whatever crank) for normal day to day driving?
Homologation rules in IMSA and WEC are quite liberal in their interpretations...
BMW raced an engine that wasn't available in that car for 2+yrs and Porsche's 911's were allowed to move the engine centerline which basically changed them to a mid-engine configuration even though their street cars are decidedly rear engined.
I would expect the flat plane crank V8 that most are speculating about in the C8.R will come out, eventually (time revealed to IMSA ?) to allow it in 2020 Daytona.
Unfortunately, no factory Ford GT's to beat next yr !
C8.R should be a beast !
Only privateer's will be racing Ford GT's. Still competion.
Later
My issue with this article is they claim relationship between production C8 Z06 and C8.R. Okay fine fair enough. But then they admit they don't know what the C8.R uses, but it sounds different, so they assume dohc and fpc then use that to justify that engine will be what Z06 uses. I'm not saying that they're wrong, but the logic train doesn't hold up to me.
Since GM has to use this engine in a production car at some future point, it will be interesting to pick up tidbits of information here and there with the thinking that we will see some incarnation of it in the Z06.
If you ever get the opportunity to see the engine that was run in the C6R and C7R, it doesn't look anything like the production engine. It's smaller displacement than the road cars. I am pretty sure it's using an aftermarket block. So it's pretty difficult to so that it's a production engine. It probably shares only a few things with the production engine, like it uses pushrods. I would assume the C8 will be in a similar situation with virtually nothing in parts coming from the road car.
Only privateer's will be racing Ford GT's. Still competion.
Later
yes, I understand
That's why I wrote no factory Ford GT's
I'd like to see how the C8.R does against the best competition: Factory Fords and Factory BMW's will be out. Only Porsche will be a full factory-backed team, according to rumors I've heard.
I'm sure privateers will run Ford GT's and BMW's though
Depends on peoples definition of fun. If driving A TRACK SPECIFIC CAR ON THR STREET is anybodys definition of fun then have at it. The Z06 is going to be such a beast. Think Porsche RS models, and bumpy roads, and thats about the jest of it. I still predict the hybrid and Z06 will be sold together or shortly after one another. Two completely different customers, and each using the cars in a different way. One as s boulevard racer, and the other guy track days and occasional outings.