The future of Corvette

[HORNDAWG]

Well if they do not introduce a C7 mid engine Corvette then they probably won't do an "EVO" Corvette as it does not fit the current business model for the Corvette program, which like it or not, understand it or not, works like gangbusters.
Maybe we will see the/a "EVO" coupe from GM as a Cadillac Cien in mid engine form as a fore-runner/test bed for a mid engine C7. That way they can put a larger sticker price on it as it is a Caddy. (?) And produce it in smaller #'s as it, at that level of production, would not occupy any space on the Bowling Green assy lines.


L.P.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by minimangler

We have!
Lister Storm.

Very, very poor example! The engine has way more potential than that.


L.P.

[minimangler]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Very, very poor example! The engine has way more potential than that.


L.P.

i know, i know.
but we have.

[dxk1]

I'm not really sure where I should put this but short of starting a new thread, this is probably the best place. The FFSA-GT GT1 Class is having a hum-dinger of a series this year with 4 Saleens (the Labre cars are last years Oreca Saleens I think) and three ex-Corvette Racing Vettes (2 C6Rs and one C5R). Bouchut and Bornhauser are leading the points in a Saleen but are closely followed by the two C6R Vettes of SRT and DKR (ex-PSI car) with Ayari & Hernandez and Dayraut & Lebon, respectively. Lots of good drivers and great racing with different winners almost every race. Six races so far and Bouchut & Bornhauser have won 3, Dayraut and Lebon have won two and Ayari & Hernandez (actually Fassler substituted for Ayari) have won one. This is actually a better GT1 Class than in either ALMS or LMS!!

DK

[Holt]

From Marshall Pruett's speedTV Le Mans bog:

"Rumors and Rumblings

I’ve heard from a usually reliable source that the Corvette Racing team has a new car undergoing scale model wind tunnel testing. Where it gets interesting is that as I’m told, it’s not a GT car."

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...test-day-blog/

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by Holt

From Marshall Pruett's speedTV Le Mans bog:

"Rumors and Rumblings

I’ve heard from a usually reliable source that the Corvette Racing team has a new car undergoing scale model wind tunnel testing. Where it gets interesting is that as I’m told, it’s not a GT car."

Well, it is true that a wind tunnel model has been tested. This was in Murphy the Bear on April 13th. The thing is, this was voted down at the board meeting. Always subject to change in the future, but for now..... Unless a completely new model was done... after the vote... which was only a few weeks ago...

[Aslak Vind]

Jan Magnussen has officially confirmed this weekend, that this is the last year of the C6R. Next year will see a whole new project...

curiously the same weekend saw him talking about NASCAR. I hope that he stays away from the trucks, and sticks with the new GM project!

[dxk1]

Originally Posted by Aslak Vind

Jan Magnussen has officially confirmed this weekend, that this is the last year of the C6R. Next year will see a whole new project...

curiously the same weekend saw him talking about NASCAR. I hope that he stays away from the trucks, and sticks with the new GM project!

It would be terrible to see Jan, either of the Ollies or anyone else from Corvette racing get sucked into NASCAR. I shudder to think about it.

DK

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Aslak Vind

Jan Magnussen has officially confirmed this weekend, that this is the last year of the C6R. Next year will see a whole new project...

curiously the same weekend saw him talking about NASCAR. I hope that he stays away from the trucks, and sticks with the new GM project!

Source?

[Aslak Vind]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Source?

Jan was interviewed to a Danish motorsports site DBA.dk, Jan also talks about the new Corvette engine with direct fuelinjection, to save fuel and stretch the stints.

[Aslak Vind]

Originally Posted by Aslak Vind

Jan was interviewed to a Danish motorsports site DBA.dk, Jan also talks about the new Corvette engine with direct fuelinjection, to save fuel and stretch the stints.

His exact words was, that the CURRENT car will be pensioned at the end of the year. And that GM will have a new project ready..

[HORNDAWG]

I didn't come up with that, direct, translation. link


L.P.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

I didn't come up with that, direct, translation. link


L.P.

Good thing we have online translators, usually so much more reliable than people who actually speak the language.

With it being a known that P&M has a contract for Corvette Racing through to the end of 2010, I kind of hope that they do take a new direction and GT1 finally disappears.

[deggis]

Wasn't Marshall Pruett actually on the location in Le Mans? Obviously the question is, did he heard old or new info.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Good thing we have online translators, usually so much more reliable than people who actually speak the language.

With it being a known that P&M has a contract for Corvette Racing through to the end of 2010, I kind of hope that they do take a new direction and GT1 finally disappears.

Ya, good thing. Its amazing that peoples who speak in the same language yet with different dialects often using the same exact words come out with different meanings, go figure.

And even though GM has P&M under contract till 2010, they could pull the plug tomorrow and not race anything, go figure!
And they have stated that it is still a ??, go figure.


L.P.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by deggis

Wasn't Marshall Pruett actually on the location in Le Mans? Obviously the question is, did he heard old or new info.

Marshall was on location. Rumours get circulated around, hard to say really.

[JAG]

This must be about Corvette, from DSC:-

The best (and most educated) guess at the moment indicates a singel GT class - If that happens then expect a double edged attack from one of the biggest GT names out there with a factory-led GT effort destined as a long-term customer programme coupled with an attack on whatever emerges as the premier prototype class.

Not Ferrari, while Porsche and Aston Martin already have Prototype/GT programs out in the open.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by JAG

This must be about Corvette, from DSC:-

Not Ferrari, while Porsche and Aston Martin already have Prototype/GT programs out in the open.

It doesn't state that the programs aren't in the open already.

[JAG]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

It doesn't state that the programs aren't in the open already.

OK, but if it was Porsche, it's fairly obvious they will have a customer GT program, new rules or not. Corvette on the other hand have always run a factory GT team, focusing purely on customers would be a change of direction worthy of note.

The article is also with regards to ALMS rumours, considering Aston Martins lack of participation, I doubt they'd run a factory P1 in the ALMS.

[Fogelhund]

What about Acura? Or BMW? Or Audi?

[AU N EGL]

hmmmm think I have changed states

I am from Missouri ....


You know the rest

[JAG]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

What about Acura? Or BMW? Or Audi?

All could also run P1/GT programs, but the fact is GT1 is dead, P&M have a contract for another 3+ years, they've supported the ALMS for 2 years with zero competition (so are arguably more commited to the series than any other manufactuer), they've had/have a P1 EVO car in the wind tunnel, the ALMS have openly stated they are working to allow GM's idea of a P1 Evo car to compete alongside current P1 cars, while drivers such as Magnussen state they'll have a new car next season.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by JAG

the ALMS have openly stated they are working to allow GM's idea of a P1 Evo car to compete alongside current P1 cars"

?

[JAG]

From DSC:-

When asked if indeed the EVO regs were dead, he (Mayer) said, “I don’t see them as dead – I see them as evolving.” From this discussion, it is plain to see that the Prototype class will be seeing changes in the future, all which should be good for the sport. Not massive and sweeping changes, but changes that will allow manufacturers to compete in a way that suits they desires. “If a manufacturer wants a car to have strong styling cues, reminiscent of a street car, we hope to have the regulations in place to allow for that and still allow them to be competitive.”

I.E a Corvette P1 EVO with road car styling cues, and resultant loss in downforce compared to a current P1 like the Peugeot 908, would be performance balanced by having more power, less weight etc.

[AU N EGL]

Originally Posted by JAG

From DSC:-

I.E a Corvette P1 EVO with road car styling cues, and resultant loss in downforce compared to a current P1 like the Peugeot 908, would be performance balanced by having more power, less weight etc.

I think you have figured out more then many of the Corvette or P&M engineers have done.

Maybe best to not read to much into those motorsprots mag articals and speculations. Rumors are like . . Every one has one.