Corvette C8.R Logs Nearly 2,800 Miles on Flat-Plane V8

Mid-engine Corvette’s newest weapon helps set team lap record for Corvette Racing, despite missing the podium at the Daytona 24.

Only a few weeks stand between us and mid-engine Corvette deliveries (your timing may vary). Luckily, we didn’t have to wait long to see the eighth-gen ‘Vette in action. The weekend of January 25 and 26 saw the car’s racing debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Despite Corvette Racing’s best efforts, their two-pronged attack missed the podium this time around. However, the C8.R’s flat-plane V8 worked its magic on the high banks. Hot Rod was there to capture the new engine’s magic.

As we’ve noted in the past, the C8.R’s 5.5-liter V8 doesn’t growl like the pushrod V8s of old. Instead, it howls like a banshee, matching the pitch of its competitors at Daytona. As Hot Rod notes, the flat-plane makes the noise it does because of its firing order. Alternating banks equal improved exhaust scavenging. No counterweights mean the V8 revs higher than cross-plane mills. And with a smaller displacement, vibration is minimized.

How did all of that tech fare? According to Torque News, it was a solid start to the campaign for the C8.R. The silver-and-yellow pair held the line against BMW and Porsche in the GTLM class for the first third of the Daytona 24.

Alas, the silver No. 4 leaked oil during the ninth hour of competition. Per Torque News, it would take nine more hours to seal the leak before it returned to log as many laps as it could.

The yellow No. 3, on the other hand, set a record for Corvette Racing. After 24 hours, the C8.R knocked out 785 laps, totaling 2,794.6 miles. The figure represents the most laps ever covered by any of the team’s ‘Vettes, going back to the C5-R in 1999.

Despite the performance, the yellow C8.R took fourth in GTLM, a lap down behind the Teutonic titans. The silver car finished seventh.

What’s next for the flat-plane V8? The production line. According to Hot Rod, FIA rules state 300 copies of the engine must be made in order for it to compete. It won’t be long until we hear the siren song of the flat-plane on the road (most likely as a Z06).

Photos: Hot Rod

.