Corvette C8.R GTD Forced to Gain Weight Ahead of Laguna Seca

For the third time in four races, the Corvette C8.R GTD will need to get heavier as it continues to dominate the competition.

In most motorsports entities, the goal is to level the mechanical playing field as much as possible. Some series, like IMSA, go so far as to levy what it calls “Balance of Performance” adjustments throughout the season, which are intended to ensure that races are won based on driver skill, not necessarily vehicle superiority. In that regard, IMSA has been hot on the Corvette C8.R GTD recently, as it just imposed its third Balance of Performance adjustment to that particular car, along with a couple others.

This is notable because we’re only four events deep in the season, and yet, the Corvette Racing will be having to deal with an additional 20 kilograms – or 44 pounds – of weight at the Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championships at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, which is significant in the world of racing. Coming off a third-place finish by Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor  at the Acura Grand Prix at Long Beach, the crew currently sits in the Manufacturer, Driver, and Team standings lead.

With a minimum weight of 1,370 kg (3,020 pounds,) the C8.R GTD is now battling the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo as the heaviest car in its segment, which is certainly notable and worth monitoring at Laguna Seca to see how it impacts performance. Regardless, the Corvette wasn’t the only car hit with a Balance of Performance adjustment this week, either.

It was joined by the BMW M4 GT3, which is forced to cut six horsepower and the Cadillac DPi-V.R, which must gain 10 kg (22 pounds), while the Acura ARX-05 was allowed to retain its 10 kg weight break. Additionally, all cars will run a 10 mm tall gurney at Laguna Seca versus the regular 15 mm, a move that’s expected to impact straight-line speed and perhaps even cornering performance at the curvy 2+ mile circuit.

Photos: Corvette Racing

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