[VIDEO] Garage 56 Camaro ZL1 Wins the Le Mans Pit Stop Challenge

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[VIDEO] Garage 56 Camaro ZL1 Wins the Le Mans Pit Stop Challenge


One of the best story lines coming out of the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year has been the inclusion of the Garage 56 Camaro ZL1 NASCAR racer fielded by Hendrick Motorsports. While the car is competing as an exhibition and is in a class all of its own, the team is taking the challenge very seriously.

First up with the Camaro is the exhaust note as it makes its way around Circuit de la Sarthe, and it very much reminds us of the glory days of the GT1 class when the Corvette’s distinct exhaust sound was perhaps the most recognizable on the track. When the Garage 56 Camaro rolls by on the track, those in attendance will not only hear that rumble, but they’ll feel it too:


And then there is the Camaro’s pace at the track where it has been running several seconds faster than the fastest GTE cars. Drivers Jimmie Johnson, Jenson Button, and Mike Rockenfeller are burning up the track and we’re hoping this pace continues during the race. It’s going to be fun watching the Camaro ZL1 mixing it up with the different GTE models and prototypes that we’re all accustomed to seeing in sportscar racing. From what I’ve been reading, it’s not the fastest on the straights, but it’s coming off the corners really fast.

But most of all, what we really like about the NASCAR racer at Le Mans is that it’s a distinctly American racecar. It’s a big car! The doors don’t open, drivers climb through the windows. The car doesn’t have built-in pneumatic jacks, it requires a jackman to lift the car in coordination with the tire changers.

Speaking of which, the pit crews at Le Mans face off against each other for the Pit Stop Challenge which is based on the class, and the Hendrick Motorsports’ pit crew pulled off the fastest time in the GTE class to win with a time of 10.364…and that’s with a team member using a floor jack!

Racing journalist Marshall Pruett is at Le Mans and he captured the Camaro’s pit crew in action at the Challenge, and then does a great interview will all five members to learn more about them.


While our heart is always with Corvette, we’re going to have fun this weekend watching the Garage 56 Camaro ZL1 as it introduces a NASCAR cup racer to European racing fans.


Source:
Marshall Pruett / Twitter

Related:
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2024 Corvette Z06 GT3R, C8.R, and NASCAR ‘Garage 56’ Le Mans Racer Testing at Sebring
Corvette Racing’s Jordan Taylor Serving as Coach for the Garage 56 Le Mans Team

 



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5 COMMENTS

  1. The ZL1 looks and sounds badass on the track. My hometown Team Hendrick guys are representing us well at Le Mans so far.

  2. Good ol’boys showing the road racing crowd how we do it in the USA, including chew and Bud lite. Correction, PBR.

  3. The Sound of Music coming out the tailpipes of that ZL1, Luvin It 👍👍 #AmericanMuscle us🫡

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