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- Thread starter mantasisg
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Another curiosity about this...
"
CORVETTE GTP AND IMSA PROTOTYPES
Any mid-engine Corvette history wouldn’t be complete without mentioning
the mid-engine race cars. The Corvette GTP competed in IMSA in the mid-
1980s and was used by Chevrolet as a way to shift customer attitudes toward
V6 powerplants. At the time, V6 engines were just entering the mainstream,
and it seemed for a while a V6 Corvette might be a reality if gas prices and
government regulations continued to increase. An opportunity to showcase
V6 technology arose after IMSA created a new class for Grand Touring
prototypes patterned after the European Group C machines that had been
winning overall at Le Mans.
Chevy entered the fray with a special Eric Broadley-designed Lola
chassis and turned it over to Rick Hendrick and his Hendrick Motorsports
team to run a semi-factory effort with sponsorship from GM Goodwrench.
Palmer and Randy Wittine designed the beautiful black and silver
Corvette GTP body and used many Corvette styling cues, especially the front
profile and the large round taillights.
The car proved to be lightning-quick in the hands of drivers Sarel Van der
Merwe and Doc Bundy, capturing many pole positions, thanks to its 1,200-hp
turbocharged Ryan Falconer-built V6. But the Lola chassis couldn’t handle
that much power, and the car was only reliable enough to win two races—at
Road Atlanta and Palm Beach in 1986.
In more recent years, Corvette-badged mid-engine prototypes with
Corvette road car styling cues have raced in IMSA competition.
But these were cars built on one of several spec race car chassis
authorized by IMSA and had little to do with advancing the evolution of a
road-going mid-engine Corvette."
"
CORVETTE GTP AND IMSA PROTOTYPES
Any mid-engine Corvette history wouldn’t be complete without mentioning
the mid-engine race cars. The Corvette GTP competed in IMSA in the mid-
1980s and was used by Chevrolet as a way to shift customer attitudes toward
V6 powerplants. At the time, V6 engines were just entering the mainstream,
and it seemed for a while a V6 Corvette might be a reality if gas prices and
government regulations continued to increase. An opportunity to showcase
V6 technology arose after IMSA created a new class for Grand Touring
prototypes patterned after the European Group C machines that had been
winning overall at Le Mans.
Chevy entered the fray with a special Eric Broadley-designed Lola
chassis and turned it over to Rick Hendrick and his Hendrick Motorsports
team to run a semi-factory effort with sponsorship from GM Goodwrench.
Palmer and Randy Wittine designed the beautiful black and silver
Corvette GTP body and used many Corvette styling cues, especially the front
profile and the large round taillights.
The car proved to be lightning-quick in the hands of drivers Sarel Van der
Merwe and Doc Bundy, capturing many pole positions, thanks to its 1,200-hp
turbocharged Ryan Falconer-built V6. But the Lola chassis couldn’t handle
that much power, and the car was only reliable enough to win two races—at
Road Atlanta and Palm Beach in 1986.
In more recent years, Corvette-badged mid-engine prototypes with
Corvette road car styling cues have raced in IMSA competition.
But these were cars built on one of several spec race car chassis
authorized by IMSA and had little to do with advancing the evolution of a
road-going mid-engine Corvette."