Tag Archives: camaro

WTCC Pace Car Stronger Than A Race Car

In the past two years’ FIA WTCC seasons, Chevrolet always was “one wheel ahead” of its peers and with the Cruze ended up first plus an additional place on the podium in 2010 and 2011.

In 2012, the world-famous American car manufacturer presents another race car for the
World Touring Car Championship that will leave its competitors far behind: the official Camaro Safety Car. The coolest pace car in the WTCC history is portrayed in its own video clip, which also shows its predecessors and the most emotional scenes from the 46-year Camaro history – outperformed by Chevrolet Europe Motorsport Director Eric Nève.

Even the first Camaro generation, built from 1966 onward, showed a huge motor sports potential. Special racing versions of the pony car won quite a number of trophies. And the Camaro was used as the famous Indy 500’s pace cars for many, many years, too. Although as the WTCC safety car the Camaro features a serial engine, it is still always in the lead. After all, with its 432 V8 hp it outraces the touring cars of the series by about 40 percent. In its new video clip, Chevrolet depicted this muscle car’s character in a glorious manner.

And just as it should become such a car with a long and successful motor sports history, Bruno Correia, an experienced race driver, will be at the Camaro’s wheel. Correia has driven in more than 350 races. To be sure, the Portuguese driver is not supposed to outrace the field, but rather to make the races safer with his aplomb. In the five-minute video clip, he casts a light on the life of a pace car driver and looks back upon an accident in 2009, when the safety car’s crew was acting rather rashly and collided with Franz Engstler’s race car, thereby causing a serious accident. Engstler, the leading driver, also lost the race, through no fault of his own.

What during a safety car phase you better not do with the Camaro is then shown by WTCC world champion Yvan Muller. After all, this Chevrolet top pilot has a very emotional relationship with the fifth-generation Camaro.

Camaro ZL1 – The Nurburgring Story

Here is a fantastic little insight to the development of the flagship Camaro undertaking handling development on the Nordschleife in Germany.

The 2012 Camaro ZL1 is the highest-performing production Camaro of all time.

Built to be track-capable right from the showroom, and tested on some of the most rigorous tracks around the world, including the Nürburgring, where it clocked in at 7:41.27. This is the car every engineer dreams about building. Every racer dreams about tearing around the track.

The 580-horsepower, 556 lb.-ft. of torque, 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine can be mated to a Tremec® 6-speed manual (MG9) or HydraMatic® 6L90 automatic transmission. This aluminum-block engine is based on GM’s legendary small block V8 architecture and features an intercooled supercharger system and premium heat-resistant aluminum alloy cylinder heads.

Enjoy the Video and the Spyshots Taken on this very development cycle.
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Cevrolet Camaro ZL1 Official Pictures and Nurburgring Photos

Back in october 2010 we spotted what we thought was a new iteration of the infamous Z28 Camaro, It turns out that the car was actually the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

The ZL1 name is derived from the infamous all aluminium engine, which was developed in the late 1960’s and the exclusivity back then only went in to 69 examples.

The LSA 6.2l supercharged engine will produce approximately 550 hp (410 kW) and the rear wheels will be driven by a six speed manual dual clutch system and magnetic dampening billed as “Ride Control” mated to a LSD.

The ZL1 will be the fastest camaro ever offered by chevrolet and the stats are still evolving in the depths of Chevrolet development and test facilities.

Major elements of the ZL1’s design are a new front fascia and hood with air extractors, designed in tandem to create aerodynamic downforce to aid handling.

The car’s hood includes a signature center section constructed of carbon fiber and rendered in satin black finish. New rocker panels, wide tires, 20-inch wheels and exhaust tips portray the car’s handling and power.

The ZL1 badge appears on the grille, hood and the brake calipers, all key areas portraying the technology within.

ZL1’s signature from the front is the redesigned fascia and aluminum hood with a raised, carbon fiber insert.

The fascia includes a front splitter and new vertical fog lamps. The fog lamp area includes air intakes designed for brake cooling.

The hood features front-mounted air extractors that direct air precisely over the car. Visually, this center section, in satin black carbon fiber, communicates the car’s high-performance intent as a visual contrast to the car’s exterior color.

The car is due for release in 2012


Chevrolet Camaro Z28 spotted again Testing on a Wet Nordschleife

Today we spotted the Camaro treading its tentative footsteps on a few low speed laps on a wet Nurburgring circuit.

We are hoping for some drier day in the future so that we can truly hear the roar of the supercharched V8 as I get the feeling they are not at the wide open throttle stage of testing yet.

As it cornered through Pflantzgarten it looked equally planted as the Corvette ZR-1 but we will have to wait and see to how fast this car can lapt the ring.

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