Corvette's C7.R Le Mans Race Car Is Brutal But Beautiful

As well as finally getting an official unveiling of the Corvette Z06, the Detroit motor show featured an even more badass version of the Stingray's hotter brother.

The C7.R has been built alongside the Z06, but optimised for endurance racing. The pair are "sharing chassis, engine technologies and aerodynamic strategies", evolved from the previous C6.R racing car.

The C7.R has much of the same tech that features on the Z06, such as the aluminium frame which has been built in-house, resulting in a 40 per cent stiffer chassis than on the outgoing racer.

The Z06's performance credentials are boosted by the fact that the race car uses similar front splitters, rocker panels and front and rear-brake cooling ducts, meaning only minor modifications were needed to make the car ready to race. Unfortunately that massive spoiler can't be found on the road car, though.

The C7.R gets an updated version of the C6.R's powertrain, as GT regulations restrict the displacement to a maximum of 5.5-litres, slightly down on the Z06's 6.2-litre engine.

The engine now gets direct injection, which increases fuel economy by about three per cent. That doesn't sound like much, but over the course of a 24 hour race, that could equate to one fewer pit stop, saving huge amounts of time.

The C7.R will make its debut at the end of January at the 24 Hours of Daytona, where Corvette Racing hopes to continue its domination of GT racing.

Video