After the car's most successful, the Corvette C5-R was replaced in 2005 by the new C6.R. It was first shown at the 2005 North American International Auto Show in Detroit alongside the new Corvette C6 Z06, and made its competition debut in the Sebring 12 Hours race in March. Technically the new racer is very similar to the all conquering C5-R, but it clothed in the latest generation Corvette body. This has obviously lead to changes in the aerodynamics package, but reliability would be guaranteed.
Power again comes from an aluminum 7 litre V8 engine, which produces enough torque to move a house. The engine is installed in a chassis very similar to the road cars, and features a slightly longer wheelbase than the old car. Carbon fibre is used throughout to get weight of the complete down as close to the 1100 kg weight limit set by the sport's governing bodies. A lot of effort was put in to getting a higher top speed down the long Mulsanne straight on the Le Mans track.
At the Sebring debut, the C6.R was joined by another new comer; the Aston Martin DBR9. The 'Vettes' proved to be right on the pace with the pale green racers, but bad luck in the race saw both cars drop back to second and third. It was the first defeat for a works Corvette since 2003. In the next two races in the ALMS championship the Corvette dominated the field, which lacked the two DBR9s that had beaten them before. The next clash of the two titans was the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
In all the practice and qualifying sessions the Aston Martins proved to be considerably quicker that the Corvettes, which was quite the opposite from Sebring where the Americans qualified first and second. 'Sand-bagging' from the Corvette team was a much heard explanation. In the race the Corvettes were more on the pace, but it was the reliability that eventually secured another one-two finish for the team in the legendary 24 Hours race. The sole surviving DBR9 finished many laps adrift after it spent a long in the pits with radiator issues.
Pictured are the two Le Mans cars, which are seen here at the Test Day two weeks before the race. WM
Drivetrain
Engine 90º V 8
Engine Location Front , longitudinally mounted
Displacement 6.980 liter / 425.9 cu in
Valvetrain 2 valves / cylinder, OHV
Fuel feed Fuel injection
Aspiration Naturally Aspirated
Gearbox 6 speed Manual
Drive Rear wheel drive
Performance figures
Power 570 bhp / 425 KW @ 5400 rpm
Torque 841 Nm / 620 ft lbs @ 4400 rpm
BHP/Liter 82 bhp / liter
Power to weight ratio 0.52 bhp / kg
Top Speed N/A
0-60 mph Acceleration N/A
Żródło: ultimatecarpage.com
