“Tweaks” In The Works For The 2016 Corvette Racing C7.R

The 2015 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship is in its final weeks, and the No. 3 Corvette C7.R of the Corvette Racing team is well-positioned to take yet another title. Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen are sitting in second place, just 5 points behind Patrick Pilet, meaning the championship will come down to the final two races.

Even though the 2015 season is nearing its climax, the Corvette Racing team is already looking ahead to the 2016 season. New rules and regulations mean some changes and “tweaks” are in the works for the 2016 C7.R, according to IMSA, with the biggest change taking place on the roof, of all places.

Doug Fehan, Corvette Racing Program Manager, saying that the biggest changes are happening to the rollcage and roof of the car. “Safety rules are requiring exit hatches in the roof.” In the event of a crash, “You must have a designated, well-designed area that will allow safety personnel to remove the hatch and slip a backboard in behind the driver before they extricate him,” he told IMSA.

He goes on to explain that the process is more involved than just cutting a hole in the rollcage and roof, as both structures are integrally tied to the chassis and body structures of the C7.R The addition of an emergency hatch requires other structural alterations to the 2016 version of the C7.R, though it’s worth the effort in the off chance that it saves a driver’s life.

Beyond the new roof hatch, the only other changes come in the aerodynamics department. Visually, the 2016 C7.R will be indistinguishable from the 2015 versions (save for the exit hatch), though a few aero improvements should let Corvette Racing pick up some extra speed and mileage.

The biggest changes to the C7.R in 2016 will be an emergency roof hatch and minor aerodynamic tweaks.

There are new rules that will make the Corvette Racing team’s jobs a little easier too. This includes the use of E85 ethanol at the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans. While Corvette Racing won its class at this year’s Le Mans race, it did so only after swapping out the ethanol-powered TUDOR engines for ones that could handle lower concentrations of ethanol. In the past, Le Mans has used E10 racing fuel, which is only 10-percent ethanol compared to the 85-percent of E85, but going forward Corvette Racing will be able to use E85 at the Circuit de la Sarthe. Corvette Racing has been using E85 since 2008, and with Le Mans increasingly focusing on its environmental impact, this change has been a long time coming.

There is another reason Corvette Racing is already looking towards 2016, and it has nothing to do with Corvettes. Rather, the promised return of the Ford GT to endurance racing means a new rival will be on hand to challenge the Corvette C7.R for Le Mans dominance. The Ford GT will compete in the GT class, naturally, celebrating its legendary 1966 victory over Ferrari at Le Mans, something the Dearborn automaker is surely hoping to repeat.

But with a new-and-improved Corvette C7.R finally able to run its fuel of choice at Le Mans, the Blue Oval boys have their work cut out for them.

About the author

Chris Demorro

Christopher DeMorro is a freelance writer and journalist from Connecticut with two passions in life; writing and anything with an engine.
Read My Articles

Late Model LS Power in your inbox.

Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from LSX Magazine, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE!

Free WordPress Themes
LSX Magazine NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

LSX Magazine - The Late Model GM Magazine for Camaro

lsxmag

We'll send you the most interesting LSX Magazine articles, news, car features, and videos every week.

LSX Magazine - The Late Model GM Magazine for Camaro

LSX Magazine NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

LSX Magazine - The Late Model GM Magazine for Camaro

lsxmag

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...


chevyhardcore
Classic Chevy Magazine
dragzine
Drag Racing
enginelabs
Engine Tech

LSX Magazine - The Late Model GM Magazine for Camaro

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...

  • chevyhardcore Classic Chevy Magazine
  • dragzine Drag Racing
  • enginelabs Engine Tech

LSX Magazine - The Late Model GM Magazine for Camaro

lsxmag

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

LSX Magazine - The Late Model GM Magazine for Camaro

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Loading