Chevrolet Is Already Developing A Corvette C8 Mid-Engine Racer

Chevrolet continues to remain quiet about the upcoming mid-engine C8 Corvette but thanks to French racing team Larbre, we know that a racing variant is already being developed.

While recently speaking with Daily Sports Car, Labre team principal Jacques Leconte revealed that his team will be racing a Ligier prototype in this year’s WEC LMP2 class this year, rather than a C7.R in the LMGTE class. Why? Because the C7.R is too old and the C8.R isn’t ready.

“The story with Corvette is not over though. It was not possible to enter another C7.R in the GTE Am category.

“This car is aging and we would not have been in a position to secure a good line-up at Le Mans in 2018. It was also too early to enter a C8 as this car is still in development,” Leconte said.

With its adoption of a mid-engine layout, the new Corvette has at least one core ingredient which could make it an even better racer than the outgoing C7.R. Seeing the C8 racing at some of the world’s greatest racetracks alongside Lamborghinis, McLarens, and Ferraris is surely enough to get even motorsport detractors a little bit excited.

It remains to be seen what engine Chevrolet could use for the C8 racer but it will inevitably by a V8 detuned to meet regulations. As for the road car, it could be available with up to three powertrains, including a twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 with upwards of 850 hp.

Picture credits to: S. Baldauf / SB-Medien for Carscoops