Auto Car Magazine: Corvette Z06 in Depth (Europe)

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Corvette Z06 in Depth (Europe)

Page 1: Summary
Page 2: Exterior / Interior
Page 3: Performance
Page 4: Body Structure / Chassis
Page 5: Born on the Track
Page 6: Specifications

Corvette Z06 and C6.R: Technology transfer direct from the track

While created for distinctly different environments, the Z06 and C6.R are the products of a two-way exchange of technology, personnel and experience between the realms of production and racing. The Z06 was developed in parallel with the racing Corvette C6.R, which dominated the GT1 class of the American Le Mans Series with 10 victories in 11 starts, including the team’s fourth win in five years in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Corvette Z06 is proof that technology transfer is a two-way street. Lessons learned on the track have benefited the Z06, just as GM’s vast resources have enriched the C6.R race car. Moreover, the rules and regulations of the racing series require that the C6.R retains strong links with its production counterpart.

Examples of the synergy between Z06 and C6.R abound. Both are powered by 7-liter small-block V-8 engines with dry-sump lubrication systems, CNC-ported cylinder heads, titanium valves and connecting rods, forged steel crankshafts, and plate-honed cylinder bores. While the components and specifications of the street and competition engines are tailored to their specific environments, the thought process behind them is identical.

The Corvette’s body design was sculpted in the wind tunnel to perform as well on the highway as it does on the Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans; the racing experience was fed back into the Z06 to create an even more effective package. Aerodynamic lessons learned in the race car were applied directly in the development of the Z06.

The Z06 has a central air intake because it provides more airflow with less aerodynamic lift than the bottom breather used previously. The C6-R needs to breathe a lot of air without pressure buildup under the front end, the wider front air intake of the Z06 is used for the same reasons.

The Z06 adds even more racing-inspired aerodynamic technology to the Corvette body design, including a downforce-producing ‘splitter’ on the front fascia and a ‘wicker bill’ on the rear deck. The ‘wicker bill’ (originally a NASCAR racing term) is a small centrally mounted rear spoiler which though less extreme than the full width rear wing of the racer, still generates sufficient downforce to balance the effect of the front ‘splitter’ and aid high-speed stability. ‘Gurney lips’ take their name from the former American Formula One racer Dan Gurney who discovered the aerodynamic attributes of the knife edge profile which is used on the leading edges of the wheel openings of the Corvette Z06, combined with rounded edges at the rear to reduce drag.

Similar underlying structures

The underlying structures of the production Z06 and the race car are very similar. The concept of the center tunnel as the backbone of the car, being combined with a cored composite floor that spans the width of the car is typical of a process that was used in production being carried over to the race car.

One of the goals of GM’s racing programs is to accelerate the career development of GM personnel. The race track is a classroom that rewards fast thinking. Many team members switch from racing to production and vice versa, strengthening their skills and bringing experience and insight to each program. Corvette production engineers helped develop the design of the race car’s aluminium engine cradle and suspension system, while proving the transfer works both ways, a Corvette Racing engineer transferred to the production group and his racing-inspired expertise in composite materials provided the real-world experience that validated the decision to produce lightweight carbon fiber front fenders, wheelhouses and floor panels for the Z06.

Five decades of racing heritage

The new Corvette Z06 builds on five decades of racing heritage. The original Corvette Z06 was born when the original designer of the Corvette, Zora Duntov sought a way to allow customers to continue racing Corvettes, after General Motors banned official involvement in racing in 1957. Duntov and colleagues created ‘RPO Z06’ as a special performance equipment package.

The RPO Z06 package first offered on ’63 models included a 20 percent larger diameter front antiroll bar, a vacuum brake booster, a dual master cylinder, sintered-metallic brake linings within power-assisted Al-Fin drums cooled by front air scoops and vented backing plates, larger diameter shocks and springs nearly twice as stiff as standard. Corvette Sting Rays featuring ‘Z06’ option remain to this day, among the most highly sought-after classic Corvettes, reaching their definitive form in the mighty 317 kW (425 hp), 427 cubic inch (7.0 l) aluminum-headed big-block of 1971.

The Corvette Z06 was resurrected in the fall of 2000 as a third body style for 2001 models. The Z06 option offered 287 kW (385 hp) from the LS6 engine versus the standard 261 kW (350 hp) of the LS1 engine. In 2002, the Z06 was modified and rated 302 kW (405 hp), achieved through removing two of the pre-catalytic converters in the exhaust system. Induction was improved and hi-lift camshafts were installed, acting on a lightweight valve gear. The all-new Corvette Z06 has built on this once again, creating a performance icon that is competing successfully against international competition both on the track and in the marketplace.

Corvette Racing builds on 45 Years of Le Mans History

When the final chequered flag fell on the 2005 racing season, Corvette Racing’s record stands at four Le Mans wins in five years, close to 50 other major race victories and five championship titles. However the story of the Corvette in the world’s most prestigious sports car race dates back to 45 years ago.

It was in 1960 that Corvette first came to the Le Mans 24-Hour race, with the Briggs Cunningham team supported by legendary Corvette designer legend Zora Arkus-Duntov. Forty five years later, in June 2005, the Corvette Racing team added another chapter to that history when it scored its fourth 1-2 finish in the GT1 class in five years.

At the wheel of the leading Corvette C6.R Oliver Gavin (Great Britain), Olivier Beretta (Monaco) and Jan Magnussen (Denmark) staged a copybook repeat of their 2004 victory and were again joined on the podium by team mates Ron Fellows (Canada), Johnny O’Connell (USA) and Max Papis (Italy).

However this race was far from an easy walk-over as Corvette Racing faced new and stronger opposition than ever before. Nonetheless, the team celebrated Corvette’s 45th anniversary at Le Mans in style, finishing fifth and sixth overall and turning back the challenge of the Aston Martin team in a hard-fought battle through the scorching heat of the race’s final hours.

American Le Mans Series

Yet Le Mans has been only a part of the story. From Corvette Racing’s inception in 1999, the American Le Mans Series of endurance sports car races across the United States has always been an equally important goal.

After gaining a series of podium places in a ‘shakedown’ season with the Corvette C5-R in 1999, Corvette Racing’s first ALMS victory came in September 2000 at Texas Motor Speedway. It was followed just three weeks later by another win in the ten-hour ‘Petit Le Mans’ race at Road Atlanta in Georgia.

Things really started motoring for the team in 2001, with class victory in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, as well as the historic first win at Le Mans, marking the highpoint of a season in which the tally was eight wins from ten races. The success story continued in 2002 with nine wins from ten races, five wins in 2003 and an amazing swansong for the retiring C5-R Corvette in 2004 with an unbeaten ten-race streak.

The 2005 season was set to be tougher, with the strongest opposition ever, adding to the challenge of developing the all-new Corvette C6.R. There were some rough patches in Corvette Racing’s road to the 2005 championship too. Running first and second in the season-opening Sebring 12-Hour race, both cars sustained damage at the 8-hour mark, but recovered to finish second and third.

10 Victories from 11 starts

The new Corvette C6.Rs proved as fast as they were strong too. The yellow Corvettes raced to 10 victories from 11 starts in 2005, including that historic fourth win at Le Mans. In addition to winning the ALMS GT1 manufacturers championship for the fifth consecutive year, Corvette Racing swept the drivers, team and pit crew championships. Victory in the final race of the ALMS season at Laguna Seca in California not only gave Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta the champions’ title, it marked Corvette Racing's 31^st 1-2 finish.

The 2005 season has been another milestone year for Corvette Racing, and a great way to celebrate Corvette’s 50th year in international road racing and the 50th anniversary of GM’s small-block V-8.