Which Grand Sport variant is track approved?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 19
Likes: 8
Which Grand Sport variant is track approved?
Does anyone know which of the GS variants are track approved by GM? Base? Z52 Sport? Z52 Track?
Any idea when will the track prep guide appear for the GS?
Any idea when will the track prep guide appear for the GS?
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 465
Likes: 198
From: Indian Harbour Beach
I'm not sure which one GM will call "approved" or what difference that makes. Any C8 can go on track, and prepping it I would imagine being basically the same. Biggest thing is brake pads and fluid, especially if you're going to be driving hard. Last thing you want is to boil them 😳. Find the correct cold psi to start and then monitor between runs. Do NOT rely on the display, get a quality hand held gauge. Do at least 1/2 lap cool down before coming in, maybe more depending on size of the track. Let it idle for a few minutes when you come in and open the boot. Monitor the transmission temperature... constantly.
Oh yeah... most important... HAVE FUN!
Oh yeah... most important... HAVE FUN!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,370
Likes: 1,341
From: Kingston, Ontario
Most likely you will need at least Z52 since the base Grand Sport doesn't come with the 4S tires OR the Z06 brakes.
Nobody seems to know what the stock brakes are but I'd guess whatever comes on a base Stingray which are not track rated.
Z52 will most likely be the minimum to make it equivalent to a base Z06/Z51 Stingray for track readiness.
Nobody seems to know what the stock brakes are but I'd guess whatever comes on a base Stingray which are not track rated.
Z52 will most likely be the minimum to make it equivalent to a base Z06/Z51 Stingray for track readiness.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 465
Likes: 198
From: Indian Harbour Beach
Most likely you will need at least Z52 since the base Grand Sport doesn't come with the 4S tires OR the Z06 brakes.
Nobody seems to know what the stock brakes are but I'd guess whatever comes on a base Stingray which are not track rated.
Z52 will most likely be the minimum to make it equivalent to a base Z06/Z51 Stingray for track readiness.
Nobody seems to know what the stock brakes are but I'd guess whatever comes on a base Stingray which are not track rated.
Z52 will most likely be the minimum to make it equivalent to a base Z06/Z51 Stingray for track readiness.
If you're just looking to have some fun and see what the cars capablities are, no need to go crazy. A little common sense goes a long way.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 12,866
Likes: 10,274
From: Garden Valley CA
I'm not sure which one GM will call "approved" or what difference that makes. Any C8 can go on track, and prepping it I would imagine being basically the same. Biggest thing is brake pads and fluid, especially if you're going to be driving hard. Last thing you want is to boil them 😳. Find the correct cold psi to start and then monitor between runs. Do NOT rely on the display, get a quality hand held gauge. Do at least 1/2 lap cool down before coming in, maybe more depending on size of the track. Let it idle for a few minutes when you come in and open the boot. Monitor the transmission temperature... constantly.
Oh yeah... most important... HAVE FUN!
Oh yeah... most important... HAVE FUN!
I suspect the base GS will be approved for track unless the brakes really can't hold up. The E-Ray is approved for track use with all-season tires.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 8,497
Likes: 3,999
From: Omaha
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
E-Ray is approved with PS4S tires (ZER performance package). It specifically states in the track prep guide to switch to PS4S.
From the Owner's Manual:
All Z06 models, E-Ray models equipped with the ZER performance package, and Stingray models equipped with Z51 performance package can be used for track events and competitive driving.
From the Track Prep Guide:
Pilot Sport 4S tires are required for track driving ability. The E-Ray all-season tires may be replaced with the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires (standard with ZER).
My assumption is any GS/GSX will be track-approved if you switch to PS4S tires. Honestly, you could even track it with the all-seasons, but obviously, GM/Michelin isn't going to cover any abnormal tire wear if you do.
From the Owner's Manual:
All Z06 models, E-Ray models equipped with the ZER performance package, and Stingray models equipped with Z51 performance package can be used for track events and competitive driving.
From the Track Prep Guide:
Pilot Sport 4S tires are required for track driving ability. The E-Ray all-season tires may be replaced with the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires (standard with ZER).
My assumption is any GS/GSX will be track-approved if you switch to PS4S tires. Honestly, you could even track it with the all-seasons, but obviously, GM/Michelin isn't going to cover any abnormal tire wear if you do.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,421
Likes: 6,539
From: Melbourne, FL
Every Corvette since 1984 is track ready. You might want to change tires, brake pads, or upgrade certain things depending on skill, but every Corvette is track capable from the factory.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 8,497
Likes: 3,999
From: Omaha
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
I do agree with this. No matter what the manual states, any Corvette is track capable, you just might need to change tires or pads. Plenty of reports and even videos of people tracking base, non-Z51 C8s with success. And honestly, while the manual states the Z51 and above can be used for track events and competitive driving, it does not explicitly state tracking a non-Z51 C8 will void the warranty.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,421
Likes: 6,539
From: Melbourne, FL
GM likely feels the extra cooling of a Z51 won't risk overheating when pushed hard on the track. Historically, the GS has gotten the extra cooling of the Z06 models, so there's little reason to expect that to change.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 5,057
Likes: 305
From: Cincinnati Ohio
On-Star is tracking you whether you pay for it or not.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,421
Likes: 6,539
From: Melbourne, FL
I get it. But my point is more that the whole "warranty" issue is a boogeyman. Realistically, they're not going to warranty consumables like brake pads and rotors, tires, shocks, etc. If the car reports a bunch of over temp events they're gonna deny your warranty regardless of where or how it was used.
Reality is, the number of people who routinely track these cars is near zero (I know there's gonna be a bunch of people who come.outnamd say they do, but it's a TINY minority that barely registers in statistics - the vast majority of owners and buyers never see a track). Those who do recognize exactly how far (or not far more specifically) a warranty will cover them on a track car.
This whole thing is a mountain out of an ant hill.
Reality is, the number of people who routinely track these cars is near zero (I know there's gonna be a bunch of people who come.outnamd say they do, but it's a TINY minority that barely registers in statistics - the vast majority of owners and buyers never see a track). Those who do recognize exactly how far (or not far more specifically) a warranty will cover them on a track car.
This whole thing is a mountain out of an ant hill.
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 39,188
Likes: 18,041
From: DFW Area TX
I get it. But my point is more that the whole "warranty" issue is a boogeyman. Realistically, they're not going to warranty consumables like brake pads and rotors, tires, shocks, etc. If the car reports a bunch of over temp events they're gonna deny your warranty regardless of where or how it was used.
Reality is, the number of people who routinely track these cars is near zero (I know there's gonna be a bunch of people who come.outnamd say they do, but it's a TINY minority that barely registers in statistics - the vast majority of owners and buyers never see a track). Those who do recognize exactly how far (or not far more specifically) a warranty will cover them on a track car.
This whole thing is a mountain out of an ant hill.
Reality is, the number of people who routinely track these cars is near zero (I know there's gonna be a bunch of people who come.outnamd say they do, but it's a TINY minority that barely registers in statistics - the vast majority of owners and buyers never see a track). Those who do recognize exactly how far (or not far more specifically) a warranty will cover them on a track car.
This whole thing is a mountain out of an ant hill.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,421
Likes: 6,539
From: Melbourne, FL
GM will usually warranty failures related to stuff they did wrong regardless of use case. This is not a situation where the Z51 has a different piling system or something like that which would change this. At most, it's a cooling thing, but you should be watching your oil pressure, oil temps, trans temps, and coolant temps when on track regardless and adjusting accordingly.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 193
Likes: 62
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 14,554
Likes: 1,549
From: Supporting the Corvette Community at Abel Chevrolet in Rio Vista, CA 707-374-6317 Ext.123
St. Jude Donor '08
Try telling that to the 2015 Z06 owners with A8 transmissions. The car is OK on track as long as it's less than 80 degrees and you don't want to do a full session. Haha