GM Offers Stunning New Trophy and the Corvette ZR1X Pace Car for this Weekend’s Detroit Grand Prix

Detroit is gearing up for one of its biggest racing weekends of the year, and this time the spotlight isn’t just on the drivers.

The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear is rolling out two bold new symbols of Motor City pride: a newly designed winner’s trophy and the electrified 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, the official pace car for race weekend.

The Grand Prix returns to the streets of downtown Detroit May 29–31, marking the 36th running of the event and once again pairing INDYCAR with the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. It’s a celebration of speed, engineering, and the craftsmanship that has defined Detroit for generations.

The new trophy — created by GM’s Industrial Design team — blends the city’s past and future into one striking piece. Designers drew inspiration from two landmarks: The Spirit of Detroit – Marshall Fredericks’ iconic 26-foot bronze sculpture, a downtown landmark since 1955 along Woodward Avenue near Turn 3 of the race circuit, and GM’s new global headquarters at Hudson’s Detroit – a symbol of the city’s next chapter.

Photo Credit: Richard Prince for Corvette Racing

The result is a trophy that merges classic Detroit symbolism with modern architectural lines.

“The GM Industrial Design team drew inspiration from the Spirit of Detroit and our new global headquarters at Hudson’s Detroit, two iconic landmarks representing strength, progress and craft,” said Crystal Windham, GM’s Executive Director of Industrial Design. “The 2026 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear trophy is designed to celebrate Detroit.”

The Spirit of Detroit has been a Detroit landmark since 1955, positioned along Woodward Avenue near Turn 3 of the 1.7 mile, nine turn race circuit along Detroit Riverwalk.

The trophy was developed with longtime Grand Prix trophy craftsman Mike Husar and will be awarded to the top three finishers in both the Chevrolet INDYCAR Grand Prix and the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic.

If the trophy represents Detroit’s soul, the pace car represents its muscle.

The 2026 Corvette ZR1X — the most powerful production Corvette ever built — will lead the field with a staggering 1,250 combined horsepower from its twin turbo 5.5 liter V8 and front axle electric motor. The electrified AWD hypercar rockets from 0–60 mph in under two seconds and can reach 233 mph.

Its appearance is just as dramatic. The ZR1X wears a hand painted half Arctic White, half Admiral Blue livery with American flag inspired graphics, including 50 stars and patriotic striping influenced by Chevrolet’s Stars and Steel Collection.

For track duty, it’s equipped with Chevrolet’s Carbon Aero package, featuring aerodynamic dive planes, underbody strakes, and a massive rear wing generating 1,200+ pounds of downforce.

“Ever since we brought the Grand Prix back downtown, it has been about celebrating the spirit, creativity and resilience of Detroit,” said Michael Montri, President of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. “From a trophy that honors two of the city’s most iconic landmarks to a pace car that represents the pinnacle of American performance, these elements reflect who we are as a community and what makes this event so special for our fans, our partners, and, most importantly, our city.”

Source:
detroitgp.com

Related:
Corvette Racing at Detroit: The Hometown Team
Corvette Racing at Laguna Seca: P2 Finish and Championship Lead
Pratt Miller Motorsports Unveils C5-R Era Throwback Livery for Corvette Racing at Laguna Seca

Subscribe Now: