Go Racing in the Michelin Corvette Challenge at Spring Mountain

Calling all racers (with the means to buy an enhanced Corvette Stingray Z51 Coupe)!

Like the days of old where Corvettes were so good at racing that they had their own Challenge series, Spring Mountain will be hosting a spec-Corvette racing series kicking off in early 2016.

The Michelin Corvette Challenge will feature 15 races over eight weekends in 2016 where participants will race identical track-ready Corvette Stingray Z51 Coupes on Spring Mountain’s 6.1 mile track.

Chevrolet showed off the Corvette Stingray Track Day Concept which features the Z06-based performance parts that will be used in the spec-racing series.

“The Corvette Stingray is one of the most track-capable production cars available and our enhancements simply augment the production specs to help ensure durability for a dedicated racing life,” said Ron Fellows. “With the cars mechanically on equal footing, driver skill will be the determining factor in the rankings, which should make it a very exciting series.”

To race in the Michelin Corvette Challenge, competitors will be buying new Corvette Stingray Z51 coupes which are then shipped to the Spring Mountain facility outside Las Vegas in Pahrump, NV. The Stingrays will receive a variety of new Z06-based performance parts to enhance the handling, braking, cooling and downforce.

The Corvettes will retain the stock LT1 V8s with 460 horsepower. Outfitted with the new performance parts and tires, Ron Fellows tested the spec car and it ran 4.1 seconds faster around the 6.1 mile track than the standard Z51 Coupes.

All the cars will run on Michelin racing slick tires but pilot super sport tires will be used if the track is wet.

“Corvette owners have been competing in showroom-stock-type racing for six decades and the new Michelin Corvette Challenge extends that legacy,” said Harlan Charles, Corvette marketing manager. “With Michelin’s support and the direction from Ron Fellows and his team, the series offers Corvette racers a unique competition experience all their own.”

All the Corvettes will be housed at the racing facility through the season to insure integrity of the cars. At the season finale in December, the participants will take delivery of their Corvettes.

Spring Mountain has released the schedule for the 2016 Michelin Corvette Challenge. Each race weekend, drivers will compete in two 30-minute races:

• February 20/21
• March 19/20
• April 16/17
• May 21/22
• Sept 17/18
• October 15/16
• November 19/20
• December 10 (followed by awards banquet).

Source:
MichelinCorvetteChallenge.com

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