C7.R Looking Down the Barrel of Retirement This Year
All goods things must come to an end
With the advent of the mid-engine C8 on July 18th, the time for the C7.R Corvette is drawing to a close. The C7.R, for those who don't follow motorsports, is a front-engine endurance race car with a 5.5-liter NA V8 making about 500 horsepower. Since its introduction in 2014, the C7.R has won races such as the GTE-Pro class at 24 Hours of Le Mans and the WeatherTech Sports Car Championship.
From our very own forum
The last race for the C7.R according to Doug Fehan will be this fall for Team Corvette at the finale of the 2019 IMSA season. According to our very own CorvetteForum member Rinaldo_Catria, we could see the C8.R for the very first time ar the Daytona 24 Hour race next year.
Coming very soon
Rumors circulating state that Fehan will replace the C7.R with a C8.R at the 2020 24 Hours of Daytona sometime in January. Some folks have seen the C8.R running around Sebring International Raceway in Florida and believe the powerplant will be a flat-plane crank with a turbo V8. Further hearsay notes a road version of the mid-engine Vette could have a twin-turbo V8 as a higher performance option.
Oh, the possibilities
The engine that could be tapped to be the foundation for that twin-turbo boost would be the 4.2-liter Blackwing that is utilized by Cadillac. Other voices on the forum are saying that something like a 5.5-liter V8 will serve as an option for the C8 ZR1. The C8 ZR1 would be boasting something in the neighborhood of 900 to 1,000 horsepower and has supposedly sent executives to chat with various legal teams on selling a car at such a comparatively bargain price.
All for a very good cause
Currently, GM will be auctioning off the very last C7 for a charity focused on housing wounded veterans, first responders, and their families. That last C7 will be a 2019 Z06 in black (because it's lights out for the model?) and auctioned off in June.
"GM, GMC, and Chevrolet support the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation and its commitment to injured and fallen military members, first responders, and their families," GM CEO Mary Barra stated at a gala this week. "The sale of this iconic Corvette will help the foundation continue its good work, and pave the way for the next generation Corvette that we will introduce on July 18."
Here is a video of the new C8.R running night laps.
