There has been so much to anticipate in the Corvette world lately. As rumors and sketches came into full view when the all-new, mid-engine Corvette was introduced, the world breathed a sigh of relief. After some time has passed, the car appears to live up to all the anticipation.
Not long after the street-going version of the 2020 Corvette was revealed, Chevrolet teased enthusiasts with the new C8.R Corvette that is destined to compete with the world’s best on racetracks around the globe. Its high-revving, flat-plane crankshaft belched out a battle cry that put the world on notice, and the world is watching and waiting.
We won’t have to wait for very long, as Chevrolet’s newest rocket is on its way to the high banks of Daytona for testing during this weekend’s Roar Before the Rolex 24. The Roar is a dress rehearsal for the first race of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
All six drivers and both C8.R Corvettes will get more than seven hours of track time around Daytona International Speedway’s 3.56-mile, eight-turn road course, giving them valuable seat time to test various setups and test the car’s endurance. The No. 3 Corvette C8.R will have full-season teammates Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor driving with Corvette newcomer Nicky Catsburg. Meanwhile, Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner – ahead of their ninth consecutive season together – will share the No. 4 Corvette with Marcel Fässler.
The mid-engine Corvette has been a long-awaited evolution in Corvette’s legacy and a dream of its first engineer, Zora Duntov, who believed that the migration to mid-engine was necessary to keep Corvette ahead of the pack. This video produced by Chevrolet shows some of the highlights and prototypes that have tested the idea that has now become a reality.
Corvette Racing is a three-time winner of the Rolex 24 – in 2001 with the Corvette C5-R and back-to-back in 2015 and 2016 with the Corvette C7.R. As the team sets their sights on leading the pack with the new C8.R, many competitors and enthusiasts will be watching this first official showing of the new mid-engine race car as it carves its first corners in angst.