- This year’s 24 Hrs of Le Mans will see a modified NASCAR Cup Sequence Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 inventory motor vehicle operate in the Garage 56 entry designated for experimental race cars and trucks.
- The car or truck, unveiled now ahead of the Daytona 500, continue to packs a 5.8-liter V-8 motor, but provides a huge fuel cell, upgraded brakes, and exclusive aerodynamics.
- The embellished driver lineup features Jimmie Johnson, Jenson Button, and Mike Rockenfeller, and the workforce has currently racked up above 3600 miles of testing.
NASCAR is going to the 24 Several hours of Le Mans. Wait around, what?! Yep, you study that right—a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 inventory vehicle is taking on the grueling and legendary day-extensive race at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France, this yr. The NASCAR racer will run in the Garage 56 location, an entry reserved for experimental motor vehicles, and the auto was disclosed right now at Daytona Worldwide Speedway in advance of this weekend’s Daytona 500.
Because 2012, Garage 56 has provided vehicles like the unorthodox, triangle-shaped DeltaWing and a modified LMP2 automobile piloted by two motorists who are paralyzed from the waistline down. This calendar year, even so, the entry will be occupied by a muscular Cup Series–spec Camaro run by a snarling 5.8-liter smaller-block V-8. The project is becoming operate by Hendrick Motorsports, the most productive Cup Collection workforce with 291 race victories to day.
The Garage 56 Camaro stays close to its roots, but several variations have been essential for 24-hour race responsibility. Practical headlights and taillights substitute the imitation stickers commonly plastered on to the inventory auto bodywork, and the crew also in good shape a more substantial 32-gallon fuel cell and carbon brake discs. The motor vehicle will journey on exceptional Goodyear Eagle tires, and will use exclusive aerodynamic things with a revised front splitter, dive planes on the entrance bumper, a new rear diffuser, and a unique rear spoiler protruding out of the bodywork.
While a regular Cup vehicle weighs 3200 lbs ., the Garage 56 automobile has shaved that down to 2960 kilos and tacks on an additional two inches of size. The Le Mans–spec racer retains the entrance and rear double wishbone suspension with adjustable coil-over shocks.
Powering the wheel will be 3 best-notch motorists. Jimmie Johnson brings his huge working experience in inventory cars and trucks as a seven-time NASCAR Cup Sequence winner, although two-time 24 Hrs of Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller knows the observe like the back again of his hand. When he has under no circumstances pushed a stock vehicle and only has a single Le Mans start out, 2009 System 1 planet champion Jenson Button is no slouch, either.
The team has been testing the Garage 56 Camaro due to the fact past August, racking up about 3600 miles at Street Atlanta, Virginia International Raceway (the place we operate out once-a-year Lightning Lap competitiveness), Goodyear Proving Grounds, Carolina Motorsports Park, Sebring Worldwide Raceway, and Daytona Global Speedway. The group will return to Sebring this Monday for an endurance examination, and the staff hopes to have its entry permitted by the race’s regulatory entire body in the up coming number of months. The 24 Hours of Le Mans will get started on Saturday, June 10, 2023.
