The Corvette C8.R celebrates racing success

by Steven Perez

posted on January 26, 2022

This special edition Corvette is a race car lookalike

The eighth-generation Corvette took the world by storm in early 2020, when America’s sports car came in a mid-engined layout for the first time. Even though it’s been out for a couple years, things are just getting started for the C8 Corvette. With the much-anticipated Z06 slated for release this summer, the Corvette line has already expanded to include this race car-inspired special edition commemorating the Corvette C8.R race car.

The Corvette Stingray IMSA GTLM Championship Edition (quite a mouthful!) was designed to commemorate the mid-engine Corvette C8.R’s inaugural season in the IMSA series, when Corvette Racing swept the Manufacturers, Drivers, and Team titles in 2020. Turo host David listed his 2022 C8.R just last month in Miami, and it’s among the rarest machines you can book right now — just 1,000 production units of this special-edition Corvette are to be made, only available in left-hand drive markets.

So, what makes this Corvette so special? First, the IMSA GTLM Championship Edition comes in the top-rung 3LT trim with the high-performance Z51 package — basically the best suspension, brakes, and exhaust equipment you can get on a Corvette right now. The 6.2L V8 pumps out 495 horsepower, and you still get that Corvette performance that’s famously good value.

Besides those respectable, but not-limited features, the C8.R emulates the look of the race machines themselves: the No. 3 and No. 4 Corvette C8.R race cars. You can have one of two distinct racing-themed graphics packages, which are really the main attraction for this car. David’s Corvette comes in Accelerate Yellow with gray graphics to mimic the No. 3 race car. Or if you’re more of a fan of the No. 4 car, there’s a Hypersonic Gray color scheme.

David’s Vette also sports a high-wing spoiler and mirrors done in Carbon Flash paint, yellow brake calipers, and black trident wheels that feature the Corvette Racing “Jake” logo, which also appears beside the rear license plate. So, while the equipment isn’t out of a race car, the flashy exterior lets you know this really is something unusual.

It’s a similar story inside. Instead of a harsh stripped-out cabin ready for the track, Chevy has maintained all the comfort and convenience that this generation’s Corvette offers, which is plenty. All surfaces are covered in leather and alcantara (or plastic coverings if you’re David and took delivery of this car right before your photoshoot), plus C8.R badges to confirm what you’re in isn’t “just a Corvette.” This car has the C8.R standard-issue GT2 seats, but Competition Sport seats are also available for a more aggressive sitting experience.

So is all this worth 13 grand more than the base Corvette? Or is it just for show? It may be yes to both — the previous generation’s version of this car, the C7.R, seems to be having no problems holding its value on the used market. The C8.R is a super rare piece of kit no matter how you look at it, and for the right die-hard Corvette fan, this may be the most special way to showcase your pride.

Steven Perez

Steven is an avid car guy and content maker at Turo. Between Golden State Warriors games he can be found getting lost somewhere in California.

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