Chevrolet Unveils 2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype

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Chevrolet Unveils 2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype

We’ve been hearing rumblings in recent weeks that Chevrolet was set to unveil a new prototype car for the 2012 racing season. Yesterday at the storied Daytona International Speedway, those rumors gave way to the real deal as Chevy pulled back the cover on an all new 2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype. The new Corvette Daytona Prototype will make its racing debut in the 50th anniversary of the GRAND-AM Road Racing Series Rolex 24 at Daytona next January 26-29, 2012.

It was a manufacturer-friendly design rule change for 2012 that allowed Chevrolet to go all in on the new Corvette Prototype. The new prototypes are allowed a smaller cockpit and streamlined roof, along with the ability to customize the body to make them appear more like the street cars they are named after. Unlike previous Daytona Prototypes, this car is much sleeker and the Corvette design cues are evident everywhere. When looking at this car, you will think “Corvette”.

Here is the introduction video by Chevrolet showing the Corvette under construction this summer at Pratt & Miller:

GM’s Racing director Mark Kent stated that the new 2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype was a multi-faceted effort involving Chevrolet, Corvette designers, Pratt & Miller and GRAND-AM. He went on to say that inspiration for this new Corvette was the IMSA GTP Corvette Prototype raced by Hendrick Motorsports in the 1980s.

Four teams have signed up to campaign the new Corvette Daytona Prototype in 2012:

  • Spirit of Daytona Racing;
  • SunTrust Racing;
  • GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing, and the
  • Action Express Racing teams

One of the drivers for Spirit of Daytona Racing is none other than Antonio Garcia, the endurance driver for the #3 Corvette Racing C6.R. Garcia should some laps in the car today as the Corvette Prototype participates in GRAND-AM testing at Daytona International Speedway.

Jim Campbell, Chevrolet vice president, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports was on hand for the unveiling and said the following:

“Sports car and endurance racing is an outstanding platform for manufacturers like us to test and learn. The design of this race car incorporates iconic Corvette styling cues and will be immediately recognized by sports car enthusiasts and fans of GRAND-AM Road Racing,” Campbell said. “We are excited to see the Corvette DP compete in the legendary Rolex 24 at Daytona next January.”

The Corvette Daytona Prototype is more than just a DP with Corvette cues. The new car is powered by a 500 horsepower Chevy small-block V8 so that deep throaty V8 sound that Corvette Racing fans are accustomed to will also be one of the hallmarks of the new Corvette Daytona Prototype.

Chevrolet Unveils 2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype Chevrolet Unveils 2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype Chevrolet Unveils 2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype
Chevrolet Unveils 2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype Chevrolet Unveils 2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype Chevrolet Unveils 2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype
Chevrolet Unveils 2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype Chevrolet Unveils 2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype Chevrolet Unveils 2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype
Chevrolet Unveils 2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype Chevrolet Unveils 2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype Chevrolet Unveils 2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype

Corvette fans who follow GRAND-AM racing are no doubt excited by yesterday’s announcement and unveiling, but the bulk of ALMS fans we’re connected with have expressed some reservations in seeing a Daytona Prototype with the Corvette name attached.

What are your thoughts on this new Corvette Daytona Prototype?


Source:
GM Racing

Related:
Corvette Racing’s Gavin to Race in Grand-Am in 2011

 



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13 COMMENTS

  1. As a HUGE ALMS fan, I’m on all in for the DP car. It’s certainly got my interest up in tuning into more than the 24hrs of Daytona race for the 2012 season.

  2. I think the DP looks really slick, and is a big improvement over the “normal” prototypes from that series, which look a bit chubby. I would actually tune in to Grand-Am races now.

    Thing is, with the conflict between the ALMS and WEC, and privateer teams like the Robertsons dropping out, I wonder a little if there is waning interest in GT racing. If Corvette or Pratt & Miller were to stop racing a street car, I would have no interest in watching racing. But I am glad to see Corvette racing expand more, and it’s not as if Chevy racing (between NASCAR and the Chevy-powered DPs or LMPCs) has taken away from the concerted Corvette GT efforts in the past decade.

    Why couldn’t the new C7 look like this?

  3. Correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t think that there is enough room for an engine in the front of this car. I think it is a mid engine! Look at the frame in the video. I don’t see room for or engine mounts. Look at the picture of it from the side. The nose is low and the wheels are close to the windshield. Lots of ducting seen through the rear split window. That is where I think the motor is. Can’t wait to find out. Also it is beautiful to look at.

  4. Saw my first Vette outside a bowling alley in 1961.
    Some day I said. Now a c-6 black on blaack is mine.

  5. It’s still a Grand Am DP, so not that interesting to me. Just let them race the GT1 car at the Daytona 24 instead. That I would watch!

  6. This car is stunning. I think it’s somewhat interesting that this car was announced the day after the Jalopnik ‘scandal’. Could the Daytona be an indication of what the C7 will really look like? I think it’s possible. There are actually a couple things about this car (styling-wise) that match the supposed C7 renderings like the short front overhang, some of the roof lines, and the hoods vents. The split rear-window is also interesting as it was assumed until recently the C7 would have one. Also, this car takes some obvious styling cues from the C6 which results in an ‘evolutionary’ design for a potential C7.

    If any styling cues from the Daytona end up in the C7, I think GM will be making a lot people very happy.

  7. I think some here are reading way to much into the layout/design of this car. It has to meet the Daytona Prototype rules, which require it to be mid-engine and set up most of the other dimensions; compare it to the existing DPs. It’s really a DP with Corvette makeup applied. It also has a tube-frame chassis. Do you think the C8 will have that?

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