2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype racer revealed

A purpose-built race machine, the Daytona Prototype (DP for short) is the result of a collaboration between Chevrolet, Pratt & Miller and GRAND-AM, as well as chassis builders, Dallara, Coyote and Riley. The Corvette is the first of a planned run of Daytona Prototype joint ventures initiated by GRAND-AM to allow manufacturers to showcase their brand without the time and expense of developing a complete racecar from the ground up.

According to GM Racing Director, Mark Kent, inspiration for the Corvette DP design came from the IMSA GTP Prototype that was run by Hendrick Motorsports in the 1980s. The new machine also shows influences of current and past roadgoing Corvettes, like the headlights and signature round tail lights, but most notably in the rear window treatment, which is very much an homage to the 1963 split-window Corvette Stingray.

Four teams have already confirmed they will run the new Corvette Daytona Prototype in the Rolex 24 Hour at Daytona in January, 2012: Spirit of Daytona Racing; SunTrust Racing; GAINSCO/Bob Stalling; and Action Express Racing. What will actually power these Corvette DPs wasn't revealed at the launch, but expect a version of the current 5.0lt GM V8 - the maximum permitted under GRAND-AM prototype rules - to be employed.

The Corvette DP will continue the Corvette tradition of racing at Daytona that started back in the 1950s, when Zora Arkus-Duntov, the father of the Corvette, set a flying mile speed record on the Daytona Beach sand. The 'Corvette SS' continued the fast tradition when the Daytona International Speedway opened in 1959. Corvette's most recent overall victory in the Daytona 24 Hour was when the Corvette Racing C5-R (also co-developed by Pratt & Miller) was the prestigious American endurance event in 2001.

The 50th Anniversary Rolex at Daytona 24 Hour endurance race will take place on January 26-29, 2012.