Corvette's Return to Racing
Draws on Proud Heritage as America's Performance Icon

As the turn of the millennium approaches, a new chapter in Corvette history is being written. Building on the dream Zora Arkus Duntov worked so hard to realize throughout his career with GM, and drawing on the Corvette's long and distinguished competition record in all forms of motorsports, Chevrolet has prepared to pit America's true production sports car against the best the world has to offer.

The race effort will be based on the new C5 Corvette and is dubbed the C5-R Corvette. The car began competing in 1999. Jim Campbell, brand manager had this to say about the latest Corvette racing effort, " The racing program we've created reinforces and underscores out commitment to the Corvette and its magnificent heritage." He goes on to say, " Corvette is America's performance icon, and all of us feel a responsibility to preserve and enhance the car's image. The racing program is designed to help us fulfill that responsibility."

That's good news to Corvette lovers and road race lovers as we get to see that great American sports car, the Corvette, back in competition on all of the famous road courses in the world. With a schedule that includes the likes of Sebring, LeMans, Petite LeMans at Road Atlanta and more, Corvette fans can look forward to a full schedule of great road racing in the year 2000.

Corvettes racing history dates back to 1956 when a trio of Corvettes set numerous acceleration and speed records on the sands of Daytona Beach. Corvette's successes on the beaches of Daytona led to a factory-supported assault on the Sebring 12-hour race the following month that year. The world took notice when John Fitch/Walt Hansgen finished first in class with the 1956 Corvette.

Lest you think racing doesn't effect the breed, the very next year (1957) an enthusiast could walk into any Chevrolet dealer and by specifying options like fuel injection, four-speed transmission and the heavy-duty brake and steering package, order a Corvette that was virtually race ready. In the ensuing years Corvettes totally dominated the production-class road racing with victories at all the major racing venues.

The racing victories were not limited to our own shores. In 1960 Briggs Cunningham assembled a team and went to LeMans. After 24 hours of racing the #3 car (Chevrolet seems to have a lot of success with that number) demonstrated remarkable speed and endurance and finished 8th overall, well ahead of many of the finest sports and all-out racing cars of the era.

Dr. Dick Thompson, aka, "The Flying Dentist" did more than his share to keep the early "solid axle" Corvettes in the winners circle. Many national wins and championships were won by Thompson behind the wheel of a Corvette.

With the introduction of the famed Sting Ray in 1963, Corvettes continued their winning ways both on the track and in the sales arena. As before, buyers could tailor their car with a wide assortment of race-ready components available directly from Chevrolet. Option packages such as the legendary L88 in 1967 transformed America's premier sports car into a fire-breathing, competition-ready racer.

The third generation Corvette, introduced in 1968, furthered the winning ways of the Vette. In fact, Corvettes were totally dominant in the late '60's and through the '70's , winning sixteen SCCA National A and B-production titles . By the end of 1978 they earned the SCCA Trans-Am Category II title and by 1979 they had captured Category I as well.

By 1987 the Corvettes were so dominate (19 checkered flags in a row) that the cars were simply banned from the series in 1987. After a twelve year absence from racing the Corvette is back. The new C5-R is ready to take on the world, and Corvette fans around the globe are glad to see the factory return to racing. Watch for American LeMans Series races all year long as the C5-R once again takes on the worlds toughest race courses.

Want to know more about the C5-R race car? Look elsewhere at this site for the C5-R race and street comparison story.