Here's What It Takes to Make the Z06 Into the GT3 Racer
How does the road-going Z06 differ from the latest GM racer?
Going Racing
The recent reveal of the brand new Corvette Z06 GT3.R was one of the least surprising in the history of the automobile, mostly because GM wasn't coy about the car's presence in the first place. Regardless, the latest Corvette-based racer is here, and there are quite a few interesting details worth lulling over - perhaps none more so than what makes the new Z06 GT3.R different from its road-going brethren.
Photos: Chevrolet
Next Level Transfer
The new GT3.R represents GM's entry into the world of factory-based racers, as previous iterations were put together by the folks at Callaway Competition. Set to make its debut at the 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona, the Z06 GT3.R is based on the street version of the C8 Z06, and according to GM, takes the level of technology transfer between racing and production to a new level with more shared components and features than ever before.
Photos: Chevrolet
Shared Base
The Z06 GT3.R begins life as an aluminum chassis frame from Chevy's Bowling Green, Kentucky plant in Kentucky that provides a lightweight yet strong and durable base for both the Z06 and Z06 GT3.R. Once in Michigan at Pratt Miller, a purpose-built steel roll cage is welded onto a base plate, which is secured to the chassis. A double-wishbone suspension at the front and rear promotes a higher level of adjustability and fitment of racing-specific tire sizes. This is the same front and rear suspension configuration as the street-legal Z06.
Photos: Chevrolet
Bodywork
The GT3.R also features racing springs and dampers, competition-specific rotors, calipers, and pads, as well as 18-inch front wheels. Motorsports engineers worked with the GM Design Studio to develop an aero package specific to the Z06 GT3.R to optimize levels of downforce, stability, drag reduction, and cooling, while both the the Z06 and Z06 GT3.R each use similar carbon fiber splitters, front air ducts to cool the brakes, and the same surface elements from from the top of the windshield to the rear of the car.
Photos: Chevrolet
Shared Mechanicals
The side air ducts behind the doors of the GT3.R were directly inspired by Z06 production road car, and it's powered by a 5.5L, flat-plane crankshaft DOHC V-8 engine derived from the production model, too. The LT6 engine for the GT3.R originates from the Performance Build Center in Bowling Green, the same line on which all production Corvette Z06 engines are built. The 5.5L powerplant shares more than 70 percent of its parts with the production Z06 engine, including the crankshaft, connecting rods, cylinder heads, fuel injectors, coils, gaskets, and a variety of other sensors.
Photos: Chevrolet
Tandem Development
"Racing continues to play a key role in the development of our production engines," said Russ O’Blenes, director, Performance and Racing Propulsion Team. "There were valuable lessons learned during the C5-R through C7.R programs that aided in the development of our V8 engines for production and racing - many dealing with efficiency, materials, and light-weighting. The flow of information from Corvette Racing to production engineering and back has helped us build race and street-car engines that are fast, reliable and efficient."
Photos: Chevrolet
Beneficial Process
Ultimately, developing these cars in tandem and sharing a large number of components is not only good for customers, but it's also a smart move on GM's part. "Corvette Racing has been an important influence on the design of Corvette production cars for 25 years," said Tadge Juechter, executive chief engineer, Corvette. "Corvette production and racing teams worked together closely in development to maximize the benefits of a mid-engine design, sharing lessons learned that set both programs up for all-out performance on the track.”
Photos: Chevrolet