The Chevrolet Corvette C8.R celebrated its dynamic debut at Road Atlanta over the weekend and really got the hearts racing of those in attendance.
Last week, Chevrolet confirmed that its new mid-engined racer features a bespoke naturally-aspirated 5.5-liter V8 with a flat-plane crank. This engine delivers a mighty 500 hp and 480 lb-ft (650 Nm) of torque and will eventually find its way into a future street-legal version of the C8-generation Corvette.
Also Read: New Corvette C8.R’s 5.5L Flat-Plane Crank V8 Coming To A Production Model Too
In these videos, it’s clear that this new eight-cylinder sounds significantly different than the road car and revs up much faster thanks to that flat-plane crank. Chevrolet brought along the #4 car to Road Atlanta for the C8.R’s dynamic debut complete with a silver and yellow paint scheme that will remain untouched for when it makes its racing debut at the 2020 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in January. The #3 car will have a different livery with larger swathes of yellow and small silver accents.
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Beyond the engine, the C8.R is distinct from the road-going Corvette Stingray thanks to a bespoke six-speed sequential transmission developed by Xtrac. In addition, the racing model supports a centrally-mounted radiator where the front storage compartment of the road car is found. Also used by the racer are bright new headlights and a bespoke aerodynamics package that includes a towering rear wing and a rear diffuser.
Chevrolet has enjoyed a lot of success with its Corvette race cars, securing no less than 107 race victories since 1999, 13 team championships, 12 driver titles, and 12 manufacturer titles.