Corvette Racing C5-R Enters IMSA Hall of Fame

While the story of Corvette Racing as we know it came to an end following this year’s Petit Le Mans, the car that started it all was paid tribute over the weekend in Braselton, Georgia. The Corvette Racing C5-R was named a part of the inaugural class of the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) Hall of Fame at the annual Night of Champions banquet outside of Road Atlanta.

The Corvette C5-R is one of the more important American race cars of the modern era, racing across the globe from 1999 to 2004 in GT, GTS/GT1, and GTO series. The racer was developed with the intention of putting Corvette back on the map as an international performer, and was built in collaboration with Pratt Miller Motorsports. The folks at Katech supplied teh C5-R's powertrains, which were based on the then-new LS1 V-8 engine. Early racers featured a 6.0-liter unit, though displacement was bumped to 7.0-liters by the end of the 1999 season. Output in the 427 cubic-inch engine reached as high as 610 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque, backed by either a five-speed manual, a six-speed manual, or a six-speed sequential gearbox throughout its tenure. Only 11 examples of the car were built by Pratt Miller between 1998 and 2004, with a 12th chassis developed as a test mule for the C6.R.

The C5-R was a monster of a performer on track. The car would win 31 of the 55 races that it participated in before 2004, including three GTS class wins at Le Mans in 2001, 2002, and 2004. Corvette Racing would also take home 4 team championships and four constructors championships during that run, as well as three driver’s championships. Nearly a quarter of all of Corvette Racing’s wins since 1999 belong to the C5-R. It is a genuinely worthy recipient of such an award, even if it comes at a time of sadness for Corvette motorsport fans.

That said, not all hope is lost when it comes to racing Corvettes. Pratt Miller are slated to helm a Z06 GT3.R program for 2024, which is known as Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports. The outfit will compete in the upcoming GT Daytona Pro category of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

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