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General Motors Media Press Release

FOR RELEASE: June 14, 2000

Production Corvette Provides Platform for Corvette C5-R Racer

On-Track Success Generates Enthusiast Interest

DETROIT, Mich., June 14, 2000 - When GM Racing engineers began the process of building the Corvette C5-R, they were challenged to create a GTS-class race car to compete against the best in international sports-car racing. Simultaneously, they were also charged by the Corvette brand team with maintaining the integrity of the production Corvette – don’t build a "Corvette on steroids." The characteristics of the latest-generation Corvette made this an easy request to fulfill.

Corvette C5-R starts with strong production component foundation
While the Corvette C5-R is a purpose-built racing machine, it does use a significant number of regular production components. The front and rear chassis cradles are machined to production specs; the stock hydroformed frame side rails are used as a base for the roll cage; the power steering pump, steering rack, and upper and lower front control arms are all production items, as are the rear lower control arms. The body is loosely based on the production car's CAD data but still uses the production windshield, taillights and marker lights. On the engine side, unique blocks are cast on the production engine casting line and the alternator and water pump are off-the-shelf items.

Corvette: A great road car makes for a great racer
When asked what attributes the production Corvette has that make it a successful racing machine, Corvette Chief Engineer Dave Hill explains, "The Corvette has always been at the cutting edge of sports-car performance. The things that make it a great road car also contribute to its success as a race car. The car's structural integrity, its suspension geometry, its aerodynamics and the general layout of the car all work together to make it a great car - whether for the road or the track.

"The hydroformed frame rails and the stiff underbody structure combine to make a very stable platform that contributes to more consistent lap times for the C5-R," he adds, "as well as enhanced ride and handling in the production car."

One of the most aerodynamic cars on the road
Aerodynamically, the production Corvette is one of the sleekest on the road today. It boasts a Cd of 0.29 but, more importantly, there's very little aerodynamic lift, even at high speeds. This gave GM Racing engineers an excellent base on which they could design their wings and other aerodynamic devices to provide additional downforce for the race car. Aerodynamicist Brian Miller stated that the racing Corvette produces so much downforce at speed that it could theoretically drive upside down on the ceiling of a tunnel

"The general architecture of the road car itself contributes to its success at the track as well," continues Hill. "The low center of gravity and long wheelbase that make the Corvette a very stable vehicle at speed also contribute to making it a comfortable street car, whether it's here on American highways or it’s going 250 kilometers per hour (155 mph) on the Autobahn."

GM Racing chassis specialist Ken Brown came to the race project straight from the Corvette development team. His knowledge of internal processes at GM helped greatly in the development of the Corvette C5-R.

"We tried to use as many common processes as we could in developing the race car," Brown says. "Our design tools, like Finite Element analysis and other CAD/CAM data processes, were used extensively. We even tried to use as many production suppliers as possible in our program. Last year we had an unplanned crash test that proved our production suspension parts would hold up to the rigors of racing. We were very happy with the results."

Technical assistance on C5-R project provided by Goodyear
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, a longtime Corvette partner, has also been providing technical assistance for the C5-R racing project. Goodyear, OEM tire supplier to Corvette since 1953, has developed a special Goodyear Racing Eagle tire for GTS competition.

Lear carbon-fiber seat can be quickly adapted for different drivers
The Corvette C5-R also features a highly specialized – and comfortable – racing seat engineered by Lear Corporation, the global automotive interiors manufacturer that also provides seats for current production Corvette models. The carbon fiber composite shells that Lear engineers developed for the Corvette C5-R have a better strength-to-weight ratio than typical aluminum racing seats. During a pit stop, the seat can be quickly adapted to accommodate any one of the three race drivers who will share the Corvette driving duties during endurance races.

With the Corvette C5-R racing project, Chevrolet wants to show the world that the new Corvette is dramatically different from previous models.

Corvette C5-R racing project demonstrates the inherent characteristics of Corvette as sports or race car
"We selected the GTS category because the cars are more like road cars, the race courses are more like real roads, and manufacturers from around the world compete there," says Hill. "We hope to use this race program to illustrate the great characteristics of the Corvette as both a sports car and a race car. This should cause new people to take a look at the Corvette as an alternative to other sports cars. And we've found that once we get people to take a look at the new Corvette, the car sells itself."