2009 Chevrolet Corvette GT1 Championship Edition
In street form, the Chevrolet Corvette is a powerful car with stunning looks and budget performance (relative to most of its six-figure competition). In race form, the Corvette has a lengthy history that has led to the utter domination of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) over the series' 10-year history winning all but the first two manufacturers championships in the GT1 class (with the other wins going to the Dodge Viper GTS). To commemorate the success of Chevrolet and Corvette Racing's Corvette C6.R, Chevrolet is introducing the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette GT1 Championship Edition. The special edition Corvette will also mark the C6.R's move to the GT2 class following the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans race. The package will be available on the Corvette Coupe 4LT, Convertible 4LT or Z06 3LZ with prices starting at $65,310, $71,815 and $86,385, respectively. Chevrolet unveiled the Corvette GT1 package at a fitting location: the Sebring International Raceway.Adding to the already menacing looks of the Corvette, the GT1 package is inspired by the look of the modified racecar as well as paying a tribute to the series drivers and the team's eight championships victories. Much like the black and yellow pain scheme of the C6.R, the 2009 Corvette with the GT1 package is only available in black or yellow. In black, the Corvette gets a silver and yellow racing stripe on the hood, roof (non-convertible models) and decklid. The yellow GT1 Edition gets silver and black racing stripes, but gets a much more aggressive racecar look thanks to the blacked-out headlamps. Other exterior enhancements include a list of the team's ALMS GT1 championships from 2001-2008 in silver lettering at the bottom of the passenger doors as well as driver flags and the Corvette Racing logo decals on the roof (non-convertible models).
Besides featuring chrome wheels and full-width decklid spoiler like the 2009 Corvette ZR1, the GT1 package is distinguishable thanks to the extensive use of the 'Jake'? logo on the hood and interior - 'Jake'? resembles a skull with the Corvette twin flag logo as its eyes and it was designed as a logo by the Corvette enthusiast site, www.badboyvettes.com. Corvette Racing featured 'Jake'? in the 2007 ALMS season finale and it can be found under the hood of the new ZR1, but the 2009 GT1 edition Corvette prominently features the mean-looking logo on the hood and it's embroidered on the seat headrests and center console cover; a yellow GT1 logo is also stitched into the seats, center console lid and the instrument panel under the 'Corvette'? stitching. Adding to the embroidered logo, the cabin stands out from base Corvette models by using yellow stitching on the seats, instrument panel, center console and door panels which provide a stylish contrast against the dark leather. Finishing off the standard package, the Corvette GT1 comes with a yellow engine cover and 'Corvette'? windshield banner.
Although the GT1 package doesn't add any performance to this special 'Vette, the Coupe and Convertible are offered with the Z51 Performance package which offers a shorter gear ratio in the six-speed manual for sportier shifts, improved braking from larger, cross-drilled rotors and a retuned suspension. The Corvette's dual-mode exhaust is also optional and adds six horsepower and four lb-ft of torque to the total output. Other options include six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters on the Coupe and Convertible, a dual roof available for the Coupe and touch-screen navigation on all available models.
Helping to ensure the car's exclusivity and success among car collectors, production will be limited to just 100 units for each color and body configuration combination adding up to just 600 units in total.