Some GM App Store applications that have been downloaded to 2016-2017 ATS; 2017 XTS, Camaro, Volt; 2017–2018 CTS, Malibu; 2017-2019 Verano, XT5, Cruze, Acadia; 2017-2020 Corvette, Impala; 2017-2021 Encore; 2017-2026 Silverado 1500; 2018 Enclave, CT6, Canyon; 2018-2019 Tahoe, Suburban, Trailblazer, Traverse, Trax, Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500HD/3500HD; 2018-2020 Yukon; 2019-2020 Envision, Escalade, Equinox; and 2019-2026 Silverado 2500HD/3500HD models are no longer supported.
These vehicles are equipped with the NGI infotainment systems (RPO IO3, IO5, IO6, IO7).
As of September 30, 2025, the GM App Store apps have expired and cannot be updated or installed.
If an app installed on these systems is removed or the system is reset to the factory settings, the currently installed app will no longer be available. The app will fail when attempting to reinstall it.
No repairs or corrections should be attempted for this condition . This is a GM App Store change only.
Refer to Bulletin #25-NA-312 for more information.
The infotainment system (RPO IVD, IVE) on some 2023-2026 LYRIQ, Colorado; 2024-2026 XT4, Blazer EV, Equinox EV, Silverado EV, Traverse, Acadia; 2025-2026 Enclave, Envision, CELESTIQ, CT5, Escalade, ESCALADE IQ, OPTIQ, BrightDrop EVs, Equinox, Silverado, Silverado HD, Tahoe, Suburban, Sierra EV, Terrain, Yukon; 2026 VISTIQ, Corvette, and HUMMER EVs may automatically switch the audio source to a connected device without any input.
As a result, the infotainment system will switch from a current audio source, such as a radio station, to the connected device.
The cause of the switch of audio sources may be due to the Media Source Priority feature being turned on in the Settings menu. The Media Source Priority setting prioritizes a paired device as the audio source when connected to the vehicle over other media sources.
If this prioritization is not desired by the customer, the Media Source Priority feature can be turned off. Select the Settings menu and go to > Connections > Phones > Options for the connected device
Under Media Source Priority, select the on/off indicator on the screen to turn off the feature.
For more information, refer to Bulletin #25-NA-320.
DCT Transmission Auxiliary Pump Cavitation Some 2024-2026 Corvette E-Ray models may have a Service Transmission message displayed on the Driver Information Center along with an illuminated Check Engine MIL. DTCs P1955 (Transmission Fluid Pressure Relief Valve Performance) and P0867 (Transmission Fluid Pressure Performance) may be set in the Transmission Control Module (TCM).
These conditions may be caused by auxiliary pump cavitations due to the transmission pan fluid filter. If DTCs P1955 and/or P0867 are set as current or history DTCs, replace the transmission pan fluid filter and reevaluate the vehicle. Refer to Automatic Transmission Fluid, Fluid Pan and/or Filter Replacement in the appropriate Service Information.
Do not attempt any other repairs for these DTCs other than transmission fluid pan filter replacement.
TIP: When removing the transmission fluid pan, the 15 bolts are single-use fasteners. During installation, tighten the bolts in sequence according to the Service Information using the GM-45059-A Angle Meter.
For more information, including part numbers, refer to Bulletin #25-NA-278.
Chevrolet was forced to sideline sales of the 2025 Z06s due to the STOP SALE order issued on August 21st, and then they continued to build the 2026 Z06s but were unable to ship them until just recently.
With dealers looking to clear that 2025 inventory, it’s your chance to negotiate a price well below MSRP. This as an unprecedented buyers’ market for one of the hottest cars on the market.
Chevy has over 1,300 2025s and another 1,300 2025s currently listed on the Chevrolet Live Inventory Tracker, and the 2026 Z06s will continue to grow. Dealers are motivated, as they’ve been sitting on hundreds of thousands of dollars in inventory over the last two months. They have been unable to move the final cars for 2025 and now the 2026s are being made and shipped
RPO Exterior Color Production 13 Silver Metallic 385 20 Medium Blue Metallic 1,148 28 Dark Blue Metallic 1,675 35 Yellow 578 40 White 3,620 41 Black 3,420 66 Dark Orange (Pilot) 5 74 Dark Red Metallic 2,878 81 Bright Red 5,340 90 Gray Metallic 644 96 Charcoal Metallic 1,046 40/41 White/Black 2,050
RPO Exterior Color Coupe Convertible Total Production 10U White 3,220 2,206 5,426 20U Medium Blue Metallic 925 503 1,428 28U Dark Blue Metallic 1,233 698 1,931 31U Arctic Pearl 24 3 27 35U Yellow 8 0 8 41U Black 2,925 1,930 4,855 68U Dark Red Metallic 2,341 1,068 3,409 81U Bright Red 4,759 2,904 7,663 90U Gray Metallic 162 63 225 96U Charcoal Metallic 1,066 374 1,440
Production: Base Coupe: 16,663 Base Convertible: 9,749 Total: 26,412
1990 C4 Production
RPO Exterior Color Production 10 White 4,872 25 Steel Blue Metallic 813 41 Black 4,759 42 Turquoise Metallic 589 53 Competition Yellow 278 68 Dark Red Metallic 2,353 80 Quasar Blue Metallic 474 81 Bright Red 6,956 91 Polo Green Metallic 1,674 96 Charcoal Metallic 878
RPO Exterior Color Production 10 White 4,305 25 Steel Blue Metallic 835 35 Yellow 650 41 Black 3,909 42 Turquoise Metallic 1,621 75 Dark Red Metallic 1,311 80 Quasar Blue Metallic 1,038 81 Bright Red 5,318 91 Polo Green Metallic 1,230 96 Charcoal Metallic 417
RPO Exterior Color Production 10 White 4,101 35 Yellow 678 41 Black 3,209 43 Bright Aqua Metallic 1,953 45 Polo Green II Metallic 1,995 73 Black Rose Metallic 1,886 75 Dark Red Metallic 1,148 80 Quazar Blue Metallic 1,043 81 Bright Red 4,466
RPO Exterior Color Production 10U White 3,031 41U Black 2,684 43U Bright Aqua Metallic 1,305 45U Polo Green II Metallic 2,189 53U Competition Yellow 517 68U Ruby Red 6,749 70U Torch Red 3,172 73U Black Rose Metallic 935 75U Dark Red Metallic 325 80U Quasar Blue Metallic 683
RPO Exterior Color Production 10U Arctic White 4,066 28U Admiral Blue 1,584 41U Black 4,136 43U Bright Aqua Metallic 1,209 45U Polo Green Metallic 3,534 53U Competition Yellow 834 66U Copper Metallic 116 70U Torch Red 5,073 73U Black Rose Metallic 1,267 75U Dark Red Metallic 1,511
RPO Exterior Color Production 05 Dark Purple Metallic 1,049 05/10 Dark Purple / White 527 10 Arctic White 3,381 28 Admiral Blue 1,006 41 Black 3,959 43 Bright Aqua Metallic 909 45 Polo Green Metallic 2,940 53 Competition Yellow 1,003 70 Torch Red 4,531 75 Dark Red Metallic 1,437
Z4Z Indy 500 Pace Car Replica Pkg. Opt $2,816 (Convertible only) 527 ZR1 Special Performance Pkg. Opt $31,258 (Coupe only) 448
Coupe RPO Description Black Int Light Grey Red Int. Total LT1 350ci, 300hp Engine, Auto. Trans. 1,046 1,210 235 2,491 LT4 350ci, 330hp Engine, Man. Trans. 751 625 164 1,540 Totals: 1,797 1,835 399 4,031 Convertible 472 367 73 912 244 157 68 469 716 524 141 1,381 Totals: 5,412
Z15 Collector's Edition $1,250 5,412 Z16 Grand Sport Package ($2,880 Convert.) $3,250 1,000
RPO Exterior Color Production 05 Dark Purple Metallic 320 10 Arctic White 3,210 13 Sebring Silver Metallic 5,412 28 Admiral Blue 1,000 41 Black 3,917 43 Bright Aqua Metallic 357 45 Polo Green Metallic 2,414 53 Competition Yellow 488 70 Torch Red 4,418
RPO Exterior Color Production 900 Tuxedo Black NA 912 Silver Blue NA 916 Daytona Blue 3,475 923 Riverside Red 4,612 932 Saddle Tan NA 936 Ermine White NA 941 Sebring Silver NA
RPO Exterior Production 900 Tuxedo Black 1,897 912 Silver Blue 3,121 916 Daytona Blue 3,454 923 Riverside Red 5,274 932 Saddle Tan 1,765 936 Ermine White 3,909 940 Satin Silver 2,785 941 Special Silver Combination NA
RPO Exterior Color Production AA Tuxedo Black 1,191 CC Ermine White 2,216 FF Nassau Blue 6,022 GG Glen Green 3,782 MM Milano Maroon 2,831 QQ Silver Pearl 2,552 UU Rally Red 3,688 XX Goldwood Yellow 1,275 Y Crocus Yellow NA
RPO Exterior Color Production 900 Tuxedo Black 1,190 972 Ermine White 2,120 974 Rally Red 3,366 976 Nassau Blue 6,100 978 Laguna Blue 2,054 980 Trophy Blue 1,463 982 Mosport Green 2,311 984 Sunfire Yellow 2,339 986 Silver Pearl 2,967 988 Milano Maroon 3,799
1966 was the first year for the 427 ci engine. This engine initially listed at 450 hp. The rating (not the output)was reduced to 425 hp for unknown reasons, shortly after production began.
RPO Exterior Color Production 900 Tuxedo Black 815 972 Ermine White 1,423 974 Rally Red 2,341 976 Marina Blue 3,840 977 Lynndale Blue 1,381 980 Elkhart Blue 1,096 982 Goodwood Green 4,293 984 Sunfire Yellow 2,325 986 Silver Pearl 1,952 988 Marlboro Maroon 3,464
L89 L71 Engine with Aluminum Cylinder Heads $368.65 16
C2 Production: Coupes: 8,504 Convertibles: 14,436 Total: 22,940 C2 Production ended with the 1967 model year. VIN #22940, is powered by a 427cid/390hp V8 with a 4-speed transmission, power steering and factory air conditioning. It was a Sting Ray with these options: Engine: 427 L36 Transmission Type: 4-SPEED Horsepower: 390 Cylinders: V8 Exterior Color: SILVER Interior Color: BLACK
The first time the world saw directly into Corvette’s window was, famously, in January 1953 at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, where the new sports car concept was unveiled as a show car in the 1953 General Motors Motorama. It was a sensation . Within six months, it was rolling off the assembly line, the start of a production run of 72 years, eight generations and counting, during which it has defined and refined what obtainable performance is all about, as America’s Sports Car.
Zora’s vision
The man who set the Corvette down that path had nothing to do with its creation. He saw it for the first time right there at the Waldorf, like any other civilian, and like most, he was captivated, intrigued by what he saw even more by what he imagined it could be. And by that May, Zora Arkus-Duntov had accepted a job at GM, working for Ed Cole, Chevrolet chief engineer, and by 1956, general manager.
Cole led the Corvette from concept to production, and under his guidance, Zora set out to turn it from a great-looking sports car into one of the fastest production cars in the world. This was accomplished in just a few short years, thanks in part to what may have been Cole’s biggest contribution to GM (and automotive) history: the Chevy small-block V-8, which was unleashed in 1955.
The effects of that initial encounter at the Waldorf are still being felt today, because in Zora’s vision, his blueprint for the Corvette ultimately called for a mid-engine layout, which was finally made into reality by Tadge Juechter and his team with the C8. How the Corvette got from there to here is a fascinating look into the window of vehicle development, a view that never fails to astonish me. Working on a car such as the Corvette, influencing its performance and design and features and benefits it’s a pinch-me moment every day, even after all these years.
Gearhead paradise
To put it simply, the Corvette is the reason I work at GM. As a young boy, I spent many car trips hunched in the rear flat area of mid-1960s coupes. Often on Saturdays, my dad took me to work with him at the Chevrolet Engineering Building at the GM Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, where the Corvette came to life. On the way home, he would take me by the Research Building lobby to see the Firebirds and the original silver Stingray.
I, like many of my co-workers, wanted to work for the company that makes the Corvette. I just loved everything about it. Its presence, its performance, its history and heritage, everything it stands for has always raised the hair on the back of my neck.
Back in those days, there used to be a swap meet just down the road in Warren, where they’d sell Chevrolet heads, parts, accessories everything you could imagine and more. It was gearhead paradise. Once, when I was about 10, I begged my dad to stop at the swap meet so we could check it out, and he did.
When we went inside the huge warehouse-like building, we came across the man himself, Zora! I’d never seen him before, but you could tell right away he was someone special. He was sitting there holding court, signing all kinds of things for all kinds of people, and it all contributed to the aura of the Corvette for me, reinforcing what I already knew I wanted to do with my life
. I thought about that moment often as we made Zora’s vision a reality with the C8. It was an honor to work on it, to follow the blueprints and trace the DNA of various development vehicles right back to the roots.
The next level
In many ways, it was inevitable. Once we got to C7, we had pushed the limits of what we could do with that configuration. It was as close to perfection as a front-engine/rear-wheel-drive Corvette was going to get. To take performance and driving dynamics to the next level for our customers, we had to move to midengine.
The groundwork for it had been done decades before. The Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle #1, commonly known as the CERV I, debuted in 1962, and demonstrated what happens when you push the boundaries of engineering and design to develop a mid-engine race car. What made the CERV I so unique was how light and powerful it was. The car weighed only 1,600 pounds, and the body accounted for only 80 pounds of that.
Its 283-cubic-inch V-8 produced 350 hp and weighed only 350 pounds, thanks to the novel use of aluminum in the cylinder block and heads, and several other critical parts such as the water pump and flywheel. The team also used magnesium in the clutch housing and fuel injection manifold it featured mechanical fuel injection. My favorite aspect of the CERV I is the orange flames that flow out of the back as it goes. It’s a sight that absolutely delights the 10-year-old still living in all of us.
The CERV I was followed by what I think is the most beautiful of all the CERV vehicles, the CERV II, in 1964. The CERV II had a monocoque chassis and was powered by a 377-cubic-inch V-8 producing 500 hp, enabling the car to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds, with a top speed of 210 mph. Importantly, the CERV II was all-wheel drive.
The transmission featured a unique configuration in which the rear wheels were driven by one torque converter and the front wheels through another. GM patented that in 1968. The CERV II also marked the beginning of the velocity stacks, like the McLarens had. Those were developed at General Motors R&D. That car is very special.
Setting records
In 1990, the CERV III made its debut. I was already working at GM so I remember it being built around the time we were working on a true active suspension system. The CERV III had an all-wheel drive, mid-engine configuration, and ran a small block 5.7-liter V-8 producing 650 hp. It weighed only 3,400 pounds thanks to extensive use of carbon fiber. The central structure was a carbon-fiber torque tube that weighed only 38 pounds. The ends of the beam were machined from titanium.
Those three CERV vehicles show that midengine has always been the Corvette’s destiny. And their legacy is on the road today in the C8, in all its iterations the Z06, E-Ray, ZR1, and ZR1X. The inherent balance of the configuration has led us to great things with C8, including setting Nürburgring lap records, and a top-speed record of 233.5 mph in the ZR1 still one of the coolest things I’ve experienced in my life, a triumph for the car’s performance and technology and the work done by Tadge and his team.
The DNA of C8 and all the generations that came before it will continue to inspire us as we peer into the window of the Corvette’s future, to C9 and beyond. As we’ve done for seven-plus decades, we will push the boundaries of innovation in propulsion, material usage, and high performance with every Corvette we do. I can feel the hair standing up on the back of my neck just thinking about it. Mark Reuss has been president of General Motors since January 2019. Reuss is a mechanical engineer who began his GM career as a student intern in 1983.
PORTIMÃO, Portugal (October 18, 2025) TF Sport & the Corvette Z06 GT3.R co-wrote another new chapter in Corvette Racing history with the program’s first European Le Mans Series championship Saturday with a victory in the season-ending Four Hours of Portimão.
Charlie Eastwood, Rui Andrade and class pole-winner Hiroshi Koizumi teamed for their second LMGT3 victory of the season in the No. 82 Corvette Z06 GT3.R and, in the process, claimed the class Drivers and Teams championships. The added bonus is that the title comes with an automatic invitation to next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, which could feature a minimum of four Corvettes on the LMGT3 grid.
Orey Fidani and IMSA GTD team AWA running next year under the 13 Motorsports banner claimed a second straight invite to Le Mans at last weekend’s Petit Le Mans for winning a second consecutive Bob Akin Award.
Saturday’s titles for TF Sport are the latest for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R, following a sweep of the GTD PRO championships for Chevy and Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Corvette Z06 GT3.R team DXDT Racing remains in contention for the Pro-Am title in GT World Challenge America with the Indianapolis Eight Hours ongoing. Johor Motorsports Racing also is alive for the Pro-Am title in GT World Challenge Asia, which closes its season with two street races in Beijing this weekend.
TF Sport also remains alive in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s LMGT3 title fight with Eastwood, Andrade and Tom Van Rompuy third heading into next month’s Eight Hours of Bahrain.
GM RACING PROGRAM MANAGER:
“Congratulations to everyone at TF Sport for making history today with the first ELMS championship for Corvette Racing. Today’s victory for Charlie, Rui and Hiro came under immense pressure with the LMGT3 Drivers and Teams titles in the balance. The whole team executed the race to perfection. Everyone at Corvette Racing, Chevrolet and GM Motorsports is excited about this championship and a fourth invitation to 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans.”
CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 82 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – LMGT3 RACE AND CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER:
“That was a very stressful stint to say the least. We didn’t seem to have a great pace. We had something we were trying to manage, and with that it was super-difficult. The pace of the McLaren and Wayne (Boyd) has been unbelievable all year. Coming into Turn Five, I could see him behind and then as I came out he was getting closer and closer.
Fortunately, as the sun started to go down, we gained a little bit of grip. But he was right there for the last 10 or 15 laps. My engineer came on the radio saying there were six laps to go, and he was literally right behind me and significantly faster.
“But what a job by these guys (Andrade and Koizumi). If I didn’t have the gap that I had when I got in the car, for sure we don’t win the race. All credit to both of them for putting in their two best stints of the year exactly when we needed it. I’m super-pleased for the first ELMS championship for Corvette and for the first championship for myself with Corvette. We’ve got Bahrain in a couple of weeks when we’re the underdog as we were today. Hopefully we can have a very good month.
“We definitely made that hard work in the last hour. I had to start having to take a lot of risks in traffic because although if we had finished second we might have won, but we didn’t know if other Ferraris were going to let the 50 pass. I was all-out to make sure we got it to the line. What an achievement for the whole team. Rui and Hiro were unbelievable today as was the whole team. I’m going to remember this one for a while.”
RUI ANDRADE, NO. 82 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – LMGT3 RACE AND CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER:
“I couldn’t have asked for better conditions to get in the car. Already yesterday, Hiro showed the pace he had this whole weekend. Every time he tried to pull away and create a gap, there was a safety car or something. But he gave me the car with a good lead.
Obviously, we were jumped by some cars that were on an offset strategy, so I had to use the new tires the team gave me and make my way through. It was a relatively easy run for me after that. I did have a little issue with the rearview camera, which is stressful because there are a lot of cars coming through all the time. But the team guided me through that really well, and I was able to give Charlie the car in P1.
“It’s becoming a habit of Charlie’s to pull out these amazing wins in the last lap, which end up in me losing my voice! I’m so happy. For sure, it was stressful for Charlie in the car, but for us on the outside watching it unfolds was even more stressful. I never had any doubt that Charlie would do it, and in the end he did it. I couldn’t be happier right now.”
(On winning the LMGT3 title) “This one is special just because as a Silver driver in the GT category now, the level is so high. We’ve had to work so hard since last year. Charlie has been my teammate since the beginning with the Corvette, and we’ve worked really hard to try and get me to improve and be at the level where we are now where we can be fighting for podiums and wins on a regular basis. So that just makes it a little more special with all the work that has gone into it. It’s surreal.”
HIROSHI KOIZUMI, NO. 82 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – LMGT3 RACE AND CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER:
“The team gave us a great car, and I have the two best drivers as teammates. That’s why I was able to keep the car in first place. So I’m really happy for that. I’m feeling very grateful. I was able to do this because of the team, and my teammates. Congratulations to all of them.”
State troopers say the 62-year-old driver of this black C5 Corvette Z06 and his 15-year-old passenger were not wearing seatbelts when he lost control and the car ran underneath the rear wheels of an 18-wheeler on NC 211 in Moore County.
The two occupants of the C5 suffered broken bones and had to be carried for treatment to the hospital, according to a report on CBS17 News out of Raleigh, Durham, and Fayetteville.
The Corvette suffered major damage to the front end, losing its hood and both front fenders and the door panel on the passenger side. Video from the scene shows the back tires of the trailer bent outward.
Two off-duty Memphis Police Department officers are accused of street drag racing in their Corvettes.
Officers Albert Green, 40, and Raphael Willingham, 37, have been relieved of duty until an investigation is completed into charges they were excessively driving over the speed limit on Winchester Road near Hickory Hill Road. A Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper says he saw the two silver Corvettes speeding and that when the two suspects saw him, they hit their brakes. During a traffic stop, the trooper asked Green why he was drag racing, and he answered that he was not.
Now, the two officers have been suspended until the investigation is completed, and the MPD has issued this statement: “These actions do not reflect the professional standards or expectations of the men and women of the Memphis Police Department.” Green and Willingham were taken into custody Sunday and charged with drag racing. They are out on a $4,000 bond. Green appeared in court Monday morning, and Willingham was due in court Tuesday at 9 a.m.
Ironically, Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis who was approved by the city council as chief earlier this year after having been moved to an interim tag in 2024 due to record crime in the city had just expressed her frustration and concern over drag racing and reckless driving on city streets to a group of college students.
No. 11 Corvette second in Pro-Am heading to Indy Eight Hours; Chouest Povoledo in two classes
For the second year in a row, DXDT Racing will fight for a championship with its Chevy Corvette Z06 GT3.R in GT World Challenge, America’s final race of the season at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This weekend 10/17 - 19th
The Indianapolis Eight Hours doubles as the series finale and also the last round of SRO’s Intercontinental GT Challenge.
DXDT Racing’s No. 11 Corvette of Matt Bell and Blake McDonald enters the race second in GT World Challenge America Pro-Am Drivers Championship and are well within range of winning the title.
Bell and McDonald will drive at Indianapolis with Alec Udell, who drove this year for DXDT in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s GTD class and was part of the team’s GT World Challenge Pro-class effort last year alongside Tommy Milner.
Bell and McDonald arrive at Indianapolis off a victory in the previous round at Baber Motorsports Park – their fourth Pro-Am win of the season. They are 19 points behind the leading BMW with 50 points going to the winner, 36 to the runner-up and 30 to third place.
Chouest Povoledo Racing also will contest the eight-hour event with three drivers in its No. 50 Z06 GT3.R full-season drivers Ross Chouest and Aaron Povoledo with Corvette Racing factory driver Nicky Catsburg filling out the lineup. This season has been the first for the Chouest Povoledo squad with Corvette.
The team’s best finish is a fourth-place showing at Virginia International Raceway, but Chouest is a two-time winner in GT America this year with the team’s second Corvette.
The Indianapolis Eight Hours is scheduled for 12:20 p.m. ET on Saturday from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. The full race and Friday’s qualifying and Pole Shootout will stream live on the GT World YouTube channel.
MATT BELL, NO. 11 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“The goal before the season was to get to this point, absolutely. Blake and I had worked together before, and I was well aware of his potential to perform how he has. Blake has matched if not exceeded those expectations. He’s put in some really strong performance this year, and I’ve been impressed with how he’s approached it all. We expected to be in the fight, and we’re in it. It’s nice for that part of the story to have gone well. Now we need to finish it out.”
“Track position is always important here. It’s basically eight one-hour races the way the ruleset works. If we can win all eight of them, then we’ll win the race in the end! Blake has been a big strength for us against the other Bronze drivers. I think every time he’s gotten out of the car, I jumped in at least second, if not in the lead. Then it’ll be up to Alec and me to keep it there against some tough competition. We’ve done it plenty of times this season, and we aim to do it again.”
NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 50 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“I’ve tested already this year with the Chouest Povoledo Racing team. The test and their Corvette felt good. The Pirelli tire was a new tire for me compared to IMSA so let’s see. I’m looking forward to it, and I think it’s going to be good fun. I’m looking forward to working with those guys, get to know them a little better and see how I can help them out. It should be a good time.”
AARON POVOLEDO, NO. 50 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Nicky to our team for this weekend at Indianapolis. A huge thanks to our friends at Corvette Racing at GM for making all this happens.”
CORVETTE RACING AT INDIANAPOLIS: By the Numbers
• 1: One manufacturer, one brand and one race program for 26-plus years Chevrolet, Corvette and Corvette Racing
• 2: Events this year at Indianapolis for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R IMSA’s Battle on The Bricks in September and this weekend’s Indianapolis Eight Hours for GT World Challenge America/IGTC
• 3: Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs entered for this week’s events, two in GT World Challenge America and one in GT America
• 14: Wins this year for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R across six different series. Four have come via Matt Bell and Blake McDonald for DXDT Racing in GT World Challenge America’s Pro-Am class: COTA, Sebring, Road America and Barber; and two for Ross Chouest in GT America: Road America and Barber
• 22: Hours of racing left in the Corvette Z06 GT3.R season covering WEC, ELMS, and GT World Challenge America and Asia
• 32: Tracks at which Corvette Racing has won races Baltimore, Charlotte Motor Speedway, COTA, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park/Mosport, Chang International Circuit (Thailand), Daytona, Detroit, Fuji, Houston, Imola, Laguna Seca, Le Mans, Lime Rock, Long Beach, Lusail International Circuit (Qatar), Sepang International Circuit (Malaysia), Miami, Mid-Ohio, Monza, Portimão, Portland, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sebring, Sonoma, St. Petersburg, Texas, Trois Rivieres, Utah, VIR, Washington DC and Watkins Glen
• 39: Number of drivers to win races in Corvette Racing entries since 1999. The latest to join the list was Ross Chouest in GT America at Road America
• 72: Years since Corvette was introduced to the world on Jan. 17, 1953 in New York City. A total of 300 cars were produced that year
• 74: Number of drivers in Corvette Racing entries since 1999. The latest to join the list was Adam Ali for Steller Motorsport in International GT Open at Barcelona
• 152: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing 118 in IMSA, nine at Le Mans, five in the FIA WEC, 13 in GT World Challenge America, three in GT World Challenge Asia, two in GT America and one in the European Le Mans Series
• 353: Event starts by Corvette Racing since 1999
• 457,466.48: Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing since its inception. To put that in perspective, Corvette Racing is more than halfway to the distance traveled by Apollo 13 the longest manned spaceflight in history: 622,268 miles. That means Corvette Racing has raced to the moon and more than halfway back!
The following tables illustrate how variations in lobe separation angle and cam timing will affect the behavior of the engine in which the camshaft is installed.
15th GT Manufacturers title for Chevrolet; Drivers, Teams championships for Garcia, Sims, Pratt Miller
Chevy & Corvette Racing swept all three GTD PRO titles in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on Saturday with the conclusion of the 10-hour Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway, Road Atlanta.
Chevrolet claimed the Manufacturers Championship, Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims claimed the Driver’s Championship in their No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, and Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports’ No. 3 squad capped the hat trick with the Teams Championship . A runner-up class finish by the No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R of Tommy Milner, Nicky Catsburg and Nico Varrone from Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports secured Chevrolet’s 15th GT class title in IMSA competition and first in GTD PRO. Garcia, Sims and Daniel Juncadella added a third-place class finish for good measure.
“The Chevrolet team is thrilled to win the GTD PRO Manufacturers Championship, our 15th IMSA GT-class title overall,” said Scott Bell, Vice President, Chevrolet. “We take great pride in this win, considering the world-class manufacturers we compete against each weekend. I want to recognize and congratulate our Corvette Racing competition and engineering teams, GM Propulsion and our constructor and GTD PRO representative Pratt Miller.”
The GTD PRO Corvettes recorded a combined nine podiums on the season, including a victory at Virginia International Raceway for Garcia and Sims, who finished the year with six top-three results. In addition, Milner and Catsburg finished second in class not only in Petit Le Mans but also at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The No. 4 also was the quickest Corvette in Friday’s GTD PRO qualifying, earning valuable points for Chevrolet.
Saturday’s results also capped the clean sweep of the GTD PRO championships, as Garcia and Sims won their first Drivers title together. Garcia is now a six-time IMSA champion, all with Corvette Racing and Sims is a two-time champion after taking the GTP Driver's title in 2023 in a Cadillac prototype.
In the Teams Championship, Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports won its 16th title dating back to 2001 and the factory Corvette Racing effort. This is the 13th time that Chevrolet and Corvette Racing swept all three class championships in Manufacturers, Drivers and Teams in the same season.
“Congratulations to Antonio, Alexander, the No. 3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R team and everyone at Pratt Miller Motorsports on securing the GTD PRO Drivers and Teams championships,” said Eric Warren, GM Vice President, Global Motorsports Competition.
“Their consistent performance throughout the season was a key factor in delivering these titles against the best GT competition in the world. Everyone at Chevrolet is proud of Antonio for his sixth championship with Corvette, Alexander’s first with our program and second with GM, and Pratt Miller Motorsports on its 16th Teams Championship in IMSA competition.”
On top of its IMSA success, Corvette Z06 GT3.R teams in GT World Challenge America, European Le Mans Series and FIA World Endurance Championship will race for championships in their respective series in the coming weeks.
This is a 1990 Corvette ZR1 that was stored in a barn for 30 years after the original owner died and had less than 600 miles driven
The new owner Rick is a Corvette enthusiast and hopes to get the ZR1 back on the road. After a fun chat with Rick and Rob Ninkovich (New England Patriots), we focus on deep cleaning the ZR1
The 2024 Chevrolet Corvette just completed federal safety compliance testing—and passed with no test failures. We break down the key results from frontal crash tests, airbag performance, windshield integrity, and fuel system checks in clear, simple language.
You will see what the data says about injury measurements, why low-risk airbag deployments matter even in a 2-seat sports car, and how labels, telltales, and manuals play a real role in safety. We also explain what a 56 km/h frontal crash actually tests, and why the Corvette’s structure and restraint timing are the quiet heroes of this story.
The 2025 Chevrolet Corvette faced a brutal side-pole impact designed to mimic a real-world hit with a tree or utility pole. We break down what the sensors saw, how the airbags timed their deployment, and whether the structure kept the dummy safe.
From chest deflection and head protection to post-crash checks and door operability, this video explains what matters and why it should shape your next performance-car decision.
You will learn how modern restraint logic sequences airbags, what good cabin integrity looks like, and why keeping intrusion low is critical in narrow-object crashes. Expect a plain-English look at dummy metrics, side structure design, and the quiet safety systems that only appear when everything goes wrong.
The progress of Leno’s Law for a while is a disappointing update. The bill, officially known as SB 712, which would have created a 35-year rolling emissions exemption for older cars in California, has been officially killed in committee.
Backed by Jay Leno and Senator Shannon Grove, the common-sense legislation was seen as a beacon of hope for the state’s classic car community, but that hope has now been extinguished.
The original idea behind the bill was simple and reasonable. It proposed that cars 35 years or older should be exempt from California’s notoriously strict smog testing. Proponents argued that these are well-maintained, rarely driven collector cars, and exempting them would have a minimal impact on air quality. This would have been a huge relief for owners of Radwood era cars from the ’80s and ’90s, who often face an expensive and frustrating battle to get their aging, pre-OBD2 emissions systems to pass the biannual test a much stricter requirement than in states like Massachusetts or New York, which exempt cars after 15 and 25 years, respectively.
Unfortunately, the bill was slowly watered down in the legislative process. Fearing a loophole that would allow people to drive old, polluting cars daily, lawmakers first added an amendment requiring the cars to have collector insurance. Then, in a move that gutted the bill’s core purpose, a later amendment completely removed the 35-year rolling rule. The final version would have only exempted cars made before 1981, leaving owners of more modern classics with no relief. This weakened version of SB 712 was already a shadow of its original intent.
Despite the changes and early bipartisan support in the Senate Transportation Committee, the bill met its end in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The committee refused to bring it to the full Senate for a vote, effectively shutting it down for good.
The failure of SB 712 is a major blow to California’s car collectors, who will now continue to face one of the toughest regulatory environments in the country for keeping their classics on the road.
Fake IDs didn’t fool a California car dealership when three men allegedly conspired to fraudulently purchase a $68,000 Corvette last month.
Police say the scheme began when Raymondo Cox, 48, of Woodland Hills used a fraudulent ID card and stolen Social Security number to apply online with a Thousand Oaks car dealership. When he scheduled an appointment to finalize the purchase of the Corvette on Sept. 23, deputies from the Thousand Oaks Police Station and detectives with the East County Investigations Bureau were ready and waiting.
Authorities say Cox signed paperwork using another person’s ID to try and complete the transaction, but he was taken into custody before the deal could be finalized.
Cox had arrived at the dealership with two other men, 32-year-old Ricky Perez of Winnetka and 41-year-old Vincent Venerable of Lancaster, who police say were also carrying false identification and were co-conspirators with Cox in the attempted theft.
All three men were arrested, with bail set at $200,000. Cox faces multiple felonies – attempted Grand Theft Auto, identity theft, conspiracy, forgery, and attempted vehicle theft. Perez and Venerable face similar charges of conspiracy, forgery, and attempted Grand Theft Auto.
The East County Investigations Bureau reminds residents to remain alert and report suspicious people or vehicles with a call to 911 or the non-emergency line at (805) 654-9511.
A Georgia sheriff is sharing dramatic photos of a burned to the ground C7 Corvette that wrecked during a high-speed chase over the weekend. Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman posted this warning on social media:
“We advise everyone to not drive recklessly at speeds over 100 mph, or you could end up like this formerly beautiful Corvette. The driver and passenger were both arrested, miraculously unharmed. The vehicle could not say the same. Make smarter choices, Muscogee County. Slow down. Save lives.”
The sheriff says the Corvette driver later identified as Clifford George Castillo was driving more than 100 mph at the time of the crash, which occurred in South Columbus at the South Lumpkin Road roundabout. He’s accused of turning off his headlights, even after the chase had been called off by deputies.
A look at the photos makes it hard to believe, but somehow Castillo and his unidentified passenger were able to escape from the burning Corvette without injuries. They fled on foot but were taken into custody.
Castillo faces 20 charges:
Willful obstruction of law enforcement, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, speeding, reckless driving, operating without lights required by law, too fast for conditions, aggressive driving, failure to maintain lane, failure to signal lane change or turn, improper lane change, failure to have license on person, hit-and-run, failure to report striking fixed object, failure to report accident, criminal damage to property second degree, false report of a crime, change of address or name on driver’s license, no proof of insurance, failure to exhibit insurance, and failure to yield right of way to emergency vehicle.
He is being held without bond on all charges, and his case was bound over to Superior Court.
NBC Sports will preview the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season finale, Motul Petit Le Mans, with a special one-hour show on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 3 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
The network show will air the Sunday before Motul Petit Le Mans, which kicks off live on network NBC at noon ET on Saturday, Oct. 11. Peacock will stream the full race flag-to-flag (in the U.S.) with additional streaming via IMSA.TV and IMSA’s Official YouTube channel (internationally). The top-level, factory-supported production car-based class in American sports car racing has evolved through several names and technical specifications over the last 15 years. But there’s been one constant:
Corvette drivers Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims will be fighting to win the GTD-Pro championship in this last IMSA race of 2025 season
Since the 45-year-old Spaniard joined Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports in 2009, he has excelled in every iteration of the premier GT category, through half a dozen technical regulation changes and three generations of Corvettes.
Garcia won his first championship in the GT class of the American Le Mans Series in 2013 with co-driver Jan Magnussen, the final year before ALMS and IMSA’s TUDOR United SportsCar Championship merged to create the modern-day IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Teamed with Magnussen from 2014-’19, Garcia won a pair of IMSA Grand Touring Le Mans (GTLM) titles for Corvette Racing in 2017 and ’18 and added two more teamed with Jordan Taylor in 2020 and ’21.
Garcia has collected a total of 31 IMSA race wins along with his quintet of championships, including five wins since the most recent GT category realignment that created the Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) class in 2022. But whether with Taylor in ’22 and ’23 or his current co-driver Alexander Sims, Garcia has never achieved a GTD PRO championship.
That could change October 11 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Sims and Garcia and the No. 3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R will carry a slim 18-point advantage into the season-concluding Motul Petit Le Mans over Albert Costa, who has shared DragonSpeed’s No. 81 Ferrari 296 GT3 for the majority of the year with Giacomo Altoè and endurance driver Davide Rigon. Mike Rockenfeller and Sebastian Priaulx sit third, 169 points back in the No. 64 Ford Multimatic Motorsports Ford Mustang GT3, with an outside shot.
Given his record, it’s surprising that Garcia has not won a championship to date during the GTD PRO era. What’s even more remarkable is that while Corvette Racing owns eight victories at Motul Petit Le Mans, Garcia has never tasted the champagne in Georgia a measure of how challenging and unpredictable the 10-hour day-into-night endurance classic can be.
Sims and Garcia achieved their only win of the ’25 season at VIRginia International Raceway with an aggressive undercut pit stop strategy from the Corvette by Pratt Miller team that vaulted them to the front of the field. At that point, they led Costa by 53 points, but the fellow-Spaniard cut the margin to 18 by finishing second ahead of the No. 3 Corvette in fourth at the most recent WeatherTech Championship race at Indianapolis.
“The last few races we’ve been always trying to cover different strategies coming from especially the No. 77 (the defending GTD PRO class champion AO Racing Porsche that lies fourth in this year’s standings) or the No. 81 (Costa),” Garcia said. “When people are probably not feeling very competitive or are not in contention at some point, that’s when they roll the dice and they kind of put everybody under the pressure.
“So, I think we really need to be very prepared on that before the races knowing what to do and how to react to people,” he continued. “Maybe there’s something we can do, like we did at VIR, be the first one to really make the move. You play it out from there and still go for the win.”
Garcia noted that fighting for a championship has become more difficult since IMSA aligned its GT classes to the worldwide FIA GT3 specification in 2022, mostly eliminating the performance disparity that existed between GTD class cars and slightly faster GTLM entries. GTD and GTD PRO now also use a standardized Michelin tire, whereas in the GTLM era, manufacturers worked with Michelin to develop tires for their specific car.
Corvette Racing had been a pure factory program since the early 2000s. However, the shift in regulations required Chevrolet and Pratt Miller Motorsports to create the first-ever Corvette GT3.R for customer sales. Ford Racing quickly followed suit with a GT3 version of the Mustang.
“GT1, GT2, GT Le Mans…they were really cool cars to drive, and we had a lot of fun with those cars during those years,” recalled Garcia. “The transition to GT3 was a little bit difficult, or different, because we had a transition year with a bit of a mix until the Z06 GT3.R was able to race. But I don’t see many, many differences, because there is always a superb level of drivers and good teams you’re fighting against.
“This is my 16th year with the team, and the approach has always been the same,” he added. “The Corvette Racing mentality has always been the same and the approach to every single race or championship has been the same regardless of the actual class of car we were running. This is just another year we are very happy and proud that we are in contention.”
Driving for IMSA’s most established and successful GT-class team, the No. 3 Corvette pairing has the championship-tested mettle going into Motul Petit Le Mans over Costa and the DragonSpeed Ferrari, which are in their first full season of GTD PRO competition. Chevrolet leads Ferrari by 46 points in the GTD PRO Manufacturer’s championship.
“The last two years, we came up short, but we are looking forward to showing and use all the knowledge we have to be in this position,” Garcia said. “Let’s see if we have enough of everything pace, race strategy, and I would say a little bit of luck. “Let’s hope everything falls in the right direction, and we can come up with another championship.”
No significant expansion of the customer base for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R is planned for next year, according to Corvette Racing program manager Jess Dane, who said their aim is to keep the car “boutique and bespoke” for its existing privateer squads.
Launched last year, a total of 17 of the Pratt Miller-built cars are in active service around the world in series such as the FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, European and Asian Le Mans Series as well as GT World Challenge America, Asia and Europe competition.
Dane stated they’re not expecting an increase in customer base for next year, but rather its existing customers purchasing additional cars for expanded programs.
TF Sport, for instance, recently announced an Asian Le Mans Series program for the 2025-26 season to join its WEC & ELMS campaigns, while U.S.-based customer DXDT Racing expanded to the WeatherTech Championship this year while continuing its GTWC America program. “I’m pleased to say that the majority of our car allocation is actually going to our existing teams,” said Dane. “Our existing teams are really keen to grow their fleet.
“Of the projected car allocation in the near future, we have more cars going to existing teams. We might have one or two cars crop up elsewhere but it will still be small and quite boutique and bespoke. “Nobody’s going to see a massive injection of cars around the world next year.”
Dane wouldn’t be drawn on the total number of cars sold, although she confirmed Pratt Miller has already built the 20-car minimum imposed by the FIA by the second year of the car’s homologation. “I honestly couldn’t be more proud of how all of our customers have done this year,” she added. “We have seven teams around the world now, and every single one has had at least one podium. “We have teams with multiple wins and the feedback from the customers has been really strong.
“What we’ve focused on as we’ve grown this program across the last couple of the years is maintaining a connection with each of those customers and treating it as a partnership as opposed to a customer and manufacturer relationship. “The results are one thing but the feedback and the relationships with the team are separate, but equally the relationships have formed part of that success. “I’m really happy where it’s at the moment.”
Dane said the influx of teams this year, which includes GTWC America and GT America powered by AWS entrant Chouest Povoledo Racing, as well as Steller Motorsport and Johor Motorsports JMR, have been able to collectively add to the database of knowledge with the car. “The transparency that we’ve run across the program has been a big part of that,” she said.
“If one of our customers experiences any kind of issue or has an idea for an improvement, the system, that we run with the level of transparency is that everyone can see that.
“Nothing is hidden; all issues are open and all updates and improvements are rolled out to the fleet as a whole. “Everything is completely equal, and having more cars in more places means that we are constantly making improvements. “The rate of finding things and the rate of improvement is impressive across the board, and I feel that’s had a good impact on our teams as well.”
Florida’s new super speeder law now has big consequences for those drivers with a heavy right foot. Exceeding the speed limit by 50 MPH or more, or are driving at 100 MPH or more is now a criminal offense with those first timers spending up to 30 days in jail.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office recently shared video to Facebook showing one of their traffic enforcement deputies pulling over the driver of a C8 Corvette Stingray Convertible after he was clocked at 107 MPH on the highway, and the driver’s excuse was BS.
“I have an appointment with my barber.”
The driver, 57-year-old Michael Stanek of Welaka was arrested for dangerous excessive speeding. He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Center where he was book and then later released on a $150 bond.
A return to the podium, hopefully on the top step, is on the mind TF Sport as the Corvette Z06 GT3.R program heads to Fuji Speedway for the Six Hours of Fuji and the next-to-last round for the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Even better is that each lineup features at least one driver who has won a race at the 2.835-mile, 16-turn Fuji Speedway circuit in the past. That’s even more encouraging considering the pace that the TF Sport Corvettes showed a year ago plus the performance of the Corvette at Fuji earlier this year including a race win and pole position in GT World Challenge Asia competition.
The trio of Daniel Juncadella, Jonny Edgar and Ben Keating are third in the Drivers Championship and 29 points out of the points lead. A season-opening victory at Qatar remains the group’s only podium finish of the season, but the pace of the No. 33 Corvette has been strong the last three races. Experience at Fuji varies between the three teammates. Edgar won’t just make his first start at Fuji he’ll also make his first trip to Japan. Juncadella made his Fuji debut a year ago in a TF Sport Corvette that was running as high as fifth in class before a couple of mechanical issues forced the car’s retirement inside the final hour.
Keating’s past success at Fuji is one that TF Sport hopes will continue for this season. He’s finished on the class podium in each of his three previous race starts, including a win with TF Sport in 2022. His last race at the circuit came two years ago in a Corvette C8.R, and he finished second in the race as part of his GTE Am championship-winning season.
Charlie Eastwood, Rui Andrade and Tom Van Rompuy are back for their second shot at a race win or podium at Fuji in the No. 81 Corvette. Van Rompuy qualified second and led twice in his stint before Andrade continued the strong run at the front.
Eastwood was at wheel late and charging toward a podium or race win when he was hit and spun by a Hypercar with more than hour left. He made up seven spots in that span to fourth at the end. Like Keating, Eastwood has previously won at Fuji with TF Sport but back in 2019. Andrade captured victory in LMP2 in the 2023 race and made his first GT-class start at Fuji last year with TF Sport.
The No. 81 Corvette finished second at Le Mans and third at Sāo Paulo earlier this year, before finishing out of the points last time out at COTA. There’s still positive momentum within the 81 Corvette lineup, as Eastwood and Andrade were part of a third-place class finish at Silverstone in the most recent round of the European Le Mans Series.
The Six Hours of Fuji scheduled for 11 a.m. JST Sunday and 10 p.m. ET Saturday. Full, live television coverage is available on the MotorTrend in the United States. Live-streaming coverage of Free Practice 3, qualifying and the race will be available on the FIA WEC app and the MAX app in the United States.
TF SPORT PRE-EVENT QUOTES
DANI JUNCADELLA, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“We’re coming to the last two rounds of the year so it’s going to be key to score some big points. We’re still in the hunt for the championship. We’re a little on the back foot because we are a few points behind in third. But I believe we will have a good chance in Fuji. It was a very strong weekend last year in terms of pace.
We couldn’t maximize it, unfortunately because of an issue on the first pit stop. I love the track, I love the Japanese fans. They’re always very passionate about racing. Let’s see if we can score some big points to be in the hunt for Bahrain. ” JONNY EDGAR, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“It will be my first time in Fuji and first time in Japan. Last year the pace in the Corvette was pretty strong for the team, so that’s a good sign. I’m looking forward to driving the track for the first time. I’ve done it on a simulator before, and it looks like a pretty cool track. The simulator helps to get a general idea of the flow of a track. Figuring out the bumps, some lines and curbs can take some time. It definitely helped at COTA and after a couple of laps I felt pretty comfortable. Hopefully I can do the same at Fuji as I learn a new track.”
BEN KEATING, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“I always enjoy going to Japan and racing at Fuji. I’ve never finished off the podium there, so I’m excited to go back in the Corvette after a year away and three years after winning there with TF Sport. So this is an event that has been very good to me.
Above all the results and success, what makes this event and trip special are the people of Japan and the fans at the racetrack. It’s an incredibly friendly and respectful atmosphere. I hope we can give the ones that are cheering for the Corvette a good result and gain ground in the championship.”
CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 81 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“Fuji was an excellent track for us last year. The Corvette felt phenomenal. We’ll be back on the medium tire for this one, which I think suits us a little bit better than the hard. We’re looking for a big result. In the last two races, we really need to finish on a high to put a squeeze on the championship side of things and finish as good as we can.”
TOM VAN ROMPUY, NO. 81 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R:
“We had good pace last year, especially in the last sector, and I think our car should be strong in the middle sector as well. The characteristics of the track suits the Corvette. We were in a good place and in contention last year, so I hope we are in the same position as last year to start the race, and I can only hope for a strong result in Fuji.”
A new refrigerant option for R-1234yf, known as R-444A, is now available for automotive professional use. R-444A has been thoroughly vetted for over a decade and is under consideration for first fill by leading vehicle manufacturers worldwide.
As an economical refrigerant option for R-1234yf for after market vehicle service providers, R-444A provides a boost to A/C system cooling performance and is more energy efficient. Why should R-444A be considered over R-1234yf?
There are four primary reasons for this: 1. Performance: R-444A will cool a vehicle up to four minutes faster than R123yf.
2. Energy efficiency: R-444A consumes less energy during a typical driving cycle, offering an advantage to improve a vehicle’s fuel (ICE) or battery (EV) range.
3. Cost: R-1234yf is both more expensive to produce and under patent protection. Both drive prices higher. In contrast, R-444A is made from common and “public domain” refrigerants for **lower relative cost.
4. Reliability: R-444A has no known conditions under which it can polymerize. It has also been fully tested for compatibility with system components and oils.
Amid the evolving landscape of vehicle thermal management systems and of regulatory pressure, it is worth noting that R-444A meets the low GWP100 <150 requirements with a CO2 equivalence of 93. In terms of PFAS (poly-fluoroalkyl substances), R-444A breaks down into substantially less TFA (trifluoroacetic acid) than R-1234yf during decomposition, making it an environmentally safe choice.
What is R-444a?
R-444A combines R-1234ze (83 percent), R-152a (5 percent), and R32 (12 percent) to create an azeotropic blend with a 7K glide. Glide is the difference between the lowest and highest refrigerant component boiling points. R-1234ze is the base contributing to its low GWP, while R-32 packs a performance punch and enhances the capacity that drives its excellent cooling performance.
