Corvette C5-R Compuware

The Chevrolet Corvette C5-R was the race-going equivalent version of the Chevrolet Corvette C5. The C5-R was constructed by Pratt & Miller and ran by Corvette Racing, which was the first race car and team to receive full factory backing by General Motors. The C5-R competed in the GTS class and won multiple championships in the American Le Mans Series and took victories in its class at Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring. The C5-R was replaced by its successor the C6.R in 2005.

Chassis C5R-008

C5R-008 had a relatively short racing career and was able to pick up two class victories in eight races. Corvette Racing’s longest serving driver to date Oliver Gavin started his Corvette Racing career in chassis C5R-008.

Many changes were made for 2003 season including a new sponsor. GM Goodwrench was replaced by the American software company Compuware. 2003 would mark the Corvette brand’s 50th anniversary therefore a GM would introduce a special blue/red/white 24 Hours of Le Mans Commemorative Edition Corvette paint scheme for 2004. This color scheme would be used at the 2003 Le Mans by Corvette Racing. This was the first time Corvette Racing had competed at Le Mans in a different color than yellow. The traditional #63 and #64 Corvette Racing used at Le Mans was replaced by #50 and #53. #50 was used to celebrate 50 years of Corvette and #53 was to signify 1953 – the first year of production for Corvette.

The aero package of the C5-R went under a major revision. The louvers over the radiator waterfall hood were fully deleted making for one large extraction scoop. The NACA ducts on the hood for the engine air intakes were deleted and relocated back to the two factory C5 grilles, which were now larger than the stock grilles but kept their factory look. The fender louvers had undergone modifications. They now were wider and longer featuring more louvers and were black instead of being painted the color of the car. This made for more front aero improvements along with a newly designed larger and wider front splitter. Additional cooling was made from a small grille added to the center endurance light cover and the brake ducts allocated beside the lower grille had been enlarged.

Chassis C5R-008 was sold at the 2005 Corvettes at Carlisle event to private collector Robert Patrella.

from gmauthority.com/blog..-cars/corvette-c5-r/