Corvette C6-R Race Car Launches in Detroit for 2005 Race Season

Unlike NASCAR racers, both the outgoing C5-R and new C6-R are based on production Corvettes. The new model gets the same hydroformed

The Corvette Racing team began the 2004 season at 12 Hours of Sebring with these two C5-R racers. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

frame rails that roll down the assembly line at the Corvette plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and other shared components.

This made for changes in the development of the new CR-6 compared to the CR-5, being that the new C6 production model is shorter overall than the C5 was, yet features a longer wheelbase. The added length makes for a more stable ride on high-speed sections of race track such as the Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans where speeds of 180-mph can be reached.

"At first glance, the shortened front and rear overhangs on the C6 would seem to present a challenge in developing a racecar with maximum aerodynamic downforce," said Steve Wesoloski, program engineering manager for Corvette Racing. "However, the low drag features on the C6, such as the sleek body and flush

Corvette Racing's Johnny O'Connell and Max Papis discuss strategy with Steve Cole. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

headlamps, lend themselves to an easy task of converting the production design into a low-drag race car."

No doubt "easy" isn't a word the team aerodynamicist would use to describe his job, but nevertheless the C6-R needed to be setup for much higher speeds than the stock C6 and downforce needed to be added. To this end a large rear wing joins a front splitter, bettering the C5-R's lift-to-drag ratio. The team used Computational Fluid Dynamic studies as well as on-track testing to perfect the aerodynamic package, resulting in a car that can be tuned to take advantage of "the low drag demands of Le Mans or the high downforce requirements of Mosport."