Camaro Z/28.R Makes its Debut at Rolex 24 at Daytona
This past weekend, the all-new Camaro Z/28.R racecar made its debut at the 52nd running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. While the Z/28.R certainly looks every bit like a track-tested performer, what makes the new Camaro racer particularly unique is just how much it shares in common with the production version of the 2014 Camaro Z/28.
In fact, the Camaro Z/28.R and the production Z/28 share aero, engine, and axle components. The Z/28.R is powered by a sport-tuned version of the same LS7 7.0-liter V8 that will be found beneath the hood of the 2014 Camaro Z/28 when it bows this spring. Both vehicles also share a helical-gear limited-slip rear differential to generate more power coming out of the corner.
The Camaro Z/28.R and the 2014 Z/28 also share aero package elements, which include front splitter; rear spoiler with wickerbill; hood extractor vent; rockers, wheel-house extensions, and front tire deflectors; and belly pan. These elements will create a tremendous amount of downforce; provided that an aero-packaged Z/28 ran Nurburgring in 7:37:47, this bodes particularly well for the future of the Camaro Z/28.R.
“The original Camaro Z/28 was designed for racing and became an iconic performance car through its hard-fought victories,” said Mark Kent, director of racing for Chevrolet, in a press release. “A new chapter in racing begins this week, as the new Camaro Z/28 makes its competition debut in one of the most hotly contested series in motorsports.”
Stevenson Motorsports and CKS Autosport began their 2014 IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge campaign by placing the No. 6 car 24th and the No. 9 car 25th after a pair of significant mechanical issues plagued the Camaros (a “catastrophic” drive mechanism failure and a fuel leak, respectively) from the start of a controversial and ugly race (25 caution flags over 117 laps).
The Camaro Z/28.R will be in action again March 12-15 at Sebring International Raceway for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.