Corvette Racing announced its return to the Circuit de la Sarthe for the 2021 24 hours of Le Mans earlier today, with the C8.R as its challenger under the LMGTE class. The team competed in Le Mans from 2000 until 2019, and adjourned the competition for 2020 due to Coronavirus complications. Corvette Racing still made its way to the GT Le Mans class, using its C8.R.
The last time Corvette Racing competed in the 24 Hours Le Mans in 2019 it used a C7.R, a racing version of the C7 with 490 horsepower from a 5.5-liter V8 mated to a six-speed semi-automatic transmission, and its curb weight reduced to 2,745 pounds. The C7.R cemented its legacy scoring one win and several points finishes during its tenure.
Corvette Racing's C8.R Challenger
Drivers Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor, and Nicky Catsburg will drive the #63 C8.R, while Tommy Milner, Alexander Sims, and Nick Tandy drive the #64.
The C8 uses an overhead camshaft version of the LT2 with a flat plane crankshaft and makes 500 horsepower. The C8.R clocks in slightly heavier than the C7.R, at 2,733 pounds, but the horsepower increase should make up the difference.
While the C8.R wasn't run in the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans, it secured multiple wins over the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the GTLM class, winning both the driver's and constructor's world championships. The C8.R debuted during the 2021 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season at the 24 Hours of Daytona, settling for 14th place with Alexander Sims at the wheel.
Toyota Now Has Competition
Toyota has been competing at Le Mans on its own since Porsche and Audi excused themselves from the series, but the addition of Alpine should hopefully offer some pushback, though Toyota's new Hypercar should prove formidable.
Competition at Le Mans is split into several classes, with WEC as the premiere class, and slower cars participating in other classes including WeatherTech SportsCar, European Le Mans, and cars that only compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans event. Each team competes to win in its class, and the overall race. The new Hyperclass will hopefully attract more manufacturers to the sport, as the new cars should prove to be more road relevant.
This year's 24 Hours of Le Mans was slated for June, but has been postponed to August, when it will host all 62 entries including the new Hypercar class.