The future of Corvette

[CyberMotor]

Originally Posted by dxk1

The C7.R is a beautiful race car. Let's hope it performs as well as it looks. Should be an exciting season. Very much looking forward to it.

DK

+1

[deggis]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGiKHLNNBCE

[Dead-Eye]

Originally Posted by Simmi

As sponsorless as a P1 effort.

I don't know how much of a big deal the loss of Compuware is? Hasn't prevented them pulling off this beautiful car.

Well, back in the financial crisis days when Detroit was reducing motorsport activities left and right people said that the Corvette program wasn't in danger because Compuware paid for most of it. I don't know how accurate that was though.

[Maelochs]

I don't see Chevrolet ever pulling the plug on this program. This is the perfect example of motorsports influencing sales--look at the Vette paddock at any road race.

Whether most Corvette owners spend most of their time cruising at legal speeds or stuck in traffic, they still connect in large numbers with Corvette's racing program. Chevrolet couldn't buy a more successful ad program than Corvette Racing.

[dxk1]

This is such a popular program, I'm guessing they could get many sponsors on board without a great deal of effort. They could probably pick and choose as to whose advertising they want to put on their livery, if any.

DK

[Mechanic Z]

Oliver Gavin posted a video from the end of the Moraine Sweep from the test at RA in August:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUyIm3D2VpA

[Mechanic Z]

More on Compuware from badboyvettes twitter:

badboyvettes.com ‏@badboyvettes 21h Compuware will no longer sponsor Corvette Racing. We heard they have had financial troubles since their CEO retired last year.

[CyberMotor]

From Crain's Detroit,

"11/15/13  Starboard Value LP, a New York-based investment firm, has joined two other institutional investors in demanding that Detroit-based Compuware Corp. (Nasdaq: CPWR) either sell itself or sell some of its assets, including its downtown headquarters, and to embark on a $450 million stock-buyback program."

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/apps/pb...taxid=19005593

Looks like they have their hands full and Corvette sponsorship is down the list of priorities.

[David]

Compuware history:



Above - 2002-10-12 - Petit Le Mans - This is C5R-006 heading for a third place finish in the 50th Anniversary of Corvette livery. It still has 'Goodwrench' sponsorship. (Squint, you'll see it.)



Above - 2003-03-15 - Sebring - A third place finish for C5R-006 to open the season. C5R-006 would only race one more time (spring Atlanta race) as a factory car. 'Compuware' replaces 'Goodwrench' for the first time.

More HERE.

[GTfour]

Originally Posted by deggis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGiKHLNNBCE

No mention of Le Mans?

[CyberMotor]

Back in July of 2006, we had decided to visit Detroit and I wanted to start at the center and drive out on Woodward Ave. Call it serendipity, but we arrived downtown Detroit just as GM and Compuware were congratulating and holding a celebration for Corvette's win in the GT1 class at Le Mans.

I shot this photo of Compuware HQ's from across the street of GM HQ's in the midst of the well-deserved celebration.

Thank you, Compuware for your support of Corvette Racing as they raced against the world's best and won in their class at Le Mans. Wish you could still be with the team as they attempt to accomplish in the 21st century what they did in the 20th century.

[Mechanic Z]

According to Corvette Blogger, the C7.Rs will be racing in a new shade of yellow, though the show car was shown in Velocity Yellow:

http://www.corvetteblogger.com/2014/...15/#more-18128

In addition to Cyber Gray going away, we also learned that this will indeed be the last year for Velocity Yellow. Although the new Corvette Z06 and C7.R show car introduced yesterday at NAIAS were Velocity Yellow, the 2015 Z06 will be wearing the new color when it goes into production in late 2014 or early 2015.
However, you will be able to see a preview of the new Yellow which will appear on Corvette Racing’s C7.Rs at Daytona later this month.
The C7.R shown at NAIAS is considered a show car but those in Daytona will be the real deal and they will feature the new yellow. Bennion said they since the C7.Rs were making their official debut in Daytona and throughout 2014, it made more sense to go ahead and race then in the new yellow so it wouldn’t have to be changed next year.
Part of the reasoning is that not only are the C7.Rs Yellow, but so are the three transport trucks, the crew’s tool chests and just about anything with a Jake logo.
The new yellow was described to us as being brighter than the current velocity yellow and we have no doubt that the C7.Rs will wear it well for their 2014 TUDOR USCC campaign.

[Maelochs]

The Vettes at the Roar looked to be about the same yellow as always (rooll cages, insides, sills and edges, places where the wrap didn't cover were all yellow.

If there was a color change it wasn't immediately apparent.

[The Badger]

They are still with the old color from other accounts . It will change come race day .

[Maelochs]

Okay. Some article I read said that Corvette Racing realized they didn't have time to paint between the Roar and race ... well, we shall see next week, then.

[ACFlinn]

Originally Posted by Mechanic Z

According to Corvette Blogger, the C7.Rs will be racing in a new shade of yellow, though the show car was shown in Velocity Yellow:

http://www.corvetteblogger.com/2014/...15/#more-18128

I'm glad they ditched the busy two-tone liveries - especially the tribal livery. At least I hope that's the case. The new livery is clean and classic.

Andy Flinn

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by Maelochs

The Vettes at the Roar looked to be about the same yellow as always (rooll cages, insides, sills and edges, places where the wrap didn't cover were all yellow.

If there was a color change it wasn't immediately apparent.

I agree, but unless you look at millennium yellow (c5) and velocity yellow (c6) side by side it is hard to tell.

[HORNDAWG]

Maybe





http://www.chevrolet.com/2015-corvet...-supercar.html



L.P.

[CyberMotor]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Maybe





http://www.chevrolet.com/2015-corvet...-supercar.html



L.P.

Good chance, I would say. The C7 has some beautiful but subtle lines. If the yellow is too bright, it glows too much for them to be seen because they are too reflective. Once again, the lighting and shadows in the photo you posted accents those lines.

[PascaLM]

Well, we will see one of the best and lovely GT ever built, with many improvements of chassis, brakes and aero, plus the direct injection.

[FstrthnU]

I feel like these pictures from Speedhunters capture the lines of the C7.R very well http://www.speedhunters.com/2014/01/...ars-take-home/

[Lagunaseca_4life]

Originally Posted by FstrthnU

I feel like these pictures from Speedhunters capture the lines of the C7.R very well http://www.speedhunters.com/2014/01/...ars-take-home/

You can clearly see that big square front grill is still there, but i like how they painted over the bottom of it to match the bumper lines.almost makes it look like its not there.nice!

[Bob Riebe]

Sadly the newest Autoweek says that while the new C7R chassis is just that new; the engine is same old, same old.

Same old LS.
Its direct injection system is was pulled out of the parts shelf from the old GT1 car.

It is slick looking so I may go to Road America to check it out but I was hoping to see how the new V-8 would do.

[TF110]

Nothing wrong with that. "Tried and true with a touch of new" sounds good to me.

[MitchZ06]

Yes it's the old LS5.5R but it's the LS5.5R as it was originally going to be run in the GT2 car before the other mfgers whinged the DI out of it. Who cares if the engine is from the old car? The LT4 is just a LS3 with DI and a few other new tech touches but it's still a pushrod small block and if no-one had ever said the C7.R was new or not you wouldn't know it from the sound.

Roll on 2014, without a McLaren in GTE Corvette is my team to cheer for and I'm hoping for another successful year.