2006 Chevrolet Corvette at Le Mans 24 Hours

(from GM Press Release)  Corvette and Aston Martin went head-to-head in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, trading blows through a gruelling day and night of racing. When the battle finally ended at 5 pm on Sunday, Corvette Racing had won the GT1 class in the world's premier endurance car race for the fifth time in six years.

The winning Corvette, with 580 horsepower, completed 355 laps, made 25 faultless pit stops, and won by a five-lap margin of victory.

Corvette Racing extended its perfect finishing record in the 24 Hours of Le Mans to six consecutive years and Corvette became the manufacturer with the most wins in recent GT history at Le Mans.

“This is a very special time in Corvette history - five Le Mans wins in six years is an incredible achievement against strong competition," commented David Venticich, regional marketing director for General Motors in the Middle East. “As well as the exceptional skill and talent of the driving team, this win is thanks to the combined work of a very dedicated crew of mechanics, top-class engineers and visionary decision makers. We would like to congratulate the team on their outstanding victory and wish them the best of luck for 2007!”

The 2006 Corvette is a performance car that is at home in virtually any environment, whether daily commuting or weekend racing. Coupe and Convertible models come with the LS2 6.0L V-8 engine that produces 400 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque. It is matched to a rear transaxle that helps improve vehicle weight balance – a six-speed manual is standard and the new six-speed paddle shift transmission with automatic modes is available. The front and rear short/long arm suspensions reflect the most competition-influenced suspension tuning in the Corvette’s history.

Dramatic fender forms and exposed headlamps combine with the grille to create a strong visual identity for the Corvette, while the tapered rear deck and fascia improve high-speed performance. The lean rear design sports round tail lamps and centre-exit exhaust. The fixed Xenon high-intensity discharge headlamps provide superior lighting performance. With a 0.286 coefficient of drag, the Coupe models are the most aerodynamic Corvettes ever.

The Corvette nameplate also offers the Corvette Z06, the race-bred vehicle which is the fastest, most powerful production Corvette ever built as well as the fastest, most powerful production car ever offered by General Motors. Its LS7 V-8 engine achieves 505 horsepower at 6300 rpm, delivering the 1423 kg Z06 a 0-100 km/h performance of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 318 km/h. The Z06 is now available from dealers across the Middle East region.

About Corvette

Corvette, under the Chevrolet division of General Motors Corporation, is the world’s largest vehicle manufacturer’s flagship performance car. In continuous production since the 1953 model year and with a total production of over 1.2 million units worldwide, the Corvette is truly an automotive icon.

The evolution of Corvette into the global benchmark for high performance sports cars is today the stuff of motoring legend. The new generation Corvette C6 has been thrilling both loyalists and a new generation of enthusiasts alike since its launch in the Middle East region at the end of 2004.