Callaway C7 Z06 Conquers a 110-Degree Stress Test on Track

This special edition Corvette thrived in this extreme environment thanks to some go fast bits including a critical cooling system overhaul.

In the punishing heat of summer in the middle of the Southern California desert, few performance cars live up to their expectations. Its a simple fact: heat soak is the enemy of automotive performance.

This issue was notoriously recognized during the initial release of the C7 Z06, as owners quickly ran into overheating issues on track due to the added stress of the supercharger.

Callaway Cars, an unquestionable leader in GM performance, recognized this issue with the Z06 early on.  Since then they have been perfecting the C7 chassis in order to provide consistent reliable performance on track, even when pushed to extremes.

Their research efforts have come from countless laps of racing both C6 and C7 GT3 versions of the Corvette. Their success is undeniable, with championship wins featuring both chassis in 2010 and 2017 respectively.

The grand culmination of their efforts both in the factory and on the track is the car we see here: a limited-edition 25th Anniversary Callaway Z06 SC757. Let’s breakdown what makes this beautiful Corvette stand out from the rest.

Carefully thought out upgrades result in undeniable performance

First thing to note is that this SC757 model carries an upgraded supercharger good for 757 HP and 777 ft/lbs of torque, a healthy bump compared to stock. Thus, the stock cooling system was not going to cut it.

The 25th Anniversary car is made to celebrate the brand’s 25 years of racing. From this success in competition came the design for the HD Cooling System: a dramatic overhaul of the lacking Z06 setup.

The most obviously recognizable difference in the base package is visual: the oversized carbon fiber front grille. This detail allows for the increase in airflow the upgraded Callaway C7 needs. However, that is just the start.

Hidden behind the bumper are integrated ducts which feed fresh air to the front brakes. Another series of ducts also provide the engine intake with a direct path to airflow.

Multi-tier HD Cooling Systems keep temps under control

When customers purchase the mid-tier level 1 variant of this system, they also receive a high-flow intercooler pump, high-flow thermostat, and an increase intercooler system capacity.

However, the limited edition Callaway seen at this event has the top-tier of the cooling upgrades: level 2. Included in this final package is a complete carbon fiber undertray and front splitter.

The front aero is combined with an integrated air-to-oil heat exchanger (replacing the OEM oil-to-water system) to finish off the beefy cooling setup.

So the real question is, does it work? Let’s see what happened when Callaway’s YouTube channel recently took the 25th Anniversary model to an unforgiving summer track day at Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, CA.

Extreme on track testing at Big Willow

The testing was conducted at the peak of the day with temperatures above 110F, not uncommon for the harsh desert environment the track is located in.

The car had already done a morning lapping session and had undergone over 2 hours worth of heat soak to begin with. Not usually a recipe for success.

However, Pete Callaway proceeded to take the car out for a 25-minute session and the car stayed cool the whole time! That is truly impressive.

Those who love to geek out over the technical details can take a look at the test report they released along with the video.

Is the level two package worth the $19k listed price? Well, if you want to ensure you never see another limp mode again even in the most adverse of circumstances, it comes at a price.

However, lap time addicts will agree there is nothing worse than having a good lap ruined by performance hiccup such as the dreaded limp mode. It’s safe to say this solves that problem.