Corvette at Le Mans: The Best Corvette Racing Moments of Each Generation!

From its first time in 1960 to the C8.R’s first time in 2021, Corvette etched its name upon the world at the Le Mans 24.

When summer rolls into France, so, too, the world’s top endurance racers and their rides. Their mission? To etch their name in history through 24 hours of grueling, intense competition upon the famed Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans. Ford, Ferrari, Porsche, Audi, Toyota, just five names to have done just that over the past six decades.

Of course, Corvette has made its own mark upon the world in France, too. In honor of the C8.R finally making its debut at Le Mans, here’s a look back on the ‘Vette’s highlights through nearly each generation of America’s (and the world’s) sports car.

C1 Era: Cunningham Brings the ‘Vette to France for the First Time

Late into the C1 Era, Zora Arkus-Duntov met Briggs Cunningham to bring the Corvette to Le Mans, the former feeling it was finally the ‘Vette’s time to shine on the biggest racing stage around, per Corvsport. Cunningham took three Corvettes to France in 1960, and to say it was a trial by fire would be an understatement.

At the end of the event, only one C1 survived (barely, and only with the help of dry ice to keep the engine cool). That C1, the No. 3, finished 8th overall, and took the top spot in its class. Though Cunningham washed his hands of GM after the race, his final run with the General made a major impact on the Corvette’s racing future.

C2 Era: The Birth of the Grand Sport Corvette

A few years after Cunningham brought the Corvette to Le Mans for the first time ever, Arkus-Duntov made another go at the famed crown jewel of racing, this time with the brand-new C2-era ‘Vette. The goal? Grab the GT Class trophy again. Thus, the Grand Sport was born, featuring a 377 V8 with over 550 horses to stomp all over the place.

Though 125 street-legal versions were going to be built to meet homologation, GM slammed the brakes on the Grand Sport over the General’s increased commitment to the ban on factory-supported racing. Only five of the ‘Vettes were built, all given to privateers by Arkus-Duntov. Only one team had planned to race the Grand Sport at Le Mans, but the car never arrived. It would be quite a while before the Corvette would return to France.

C3 Era: NART Pins a Dart on P1 for the C3

The C3 Corvette made its debut in the 1968 running of the Le Mans 24 under the Swiss flag of Scuderia Filipinetti, as well as the Stars and Stripes of Sunray DX Oil Company. None of the five total ‘Vettes finished (the Sunray pair were withdrawn from competition before the race even began).

Four years later, the famous North American Racing Team entered their own C3 in the GTS +5.0 category. Standing out among the team’s usual Ferrari entries, the ‘Vette was originally a wrecked ’68 model bought for $600 by Goodyear’s Race Engineering and Development team, according to Motor1. Barely making it to the big dance, the hodgepodge of parts crossed the finish line 15th overall, and first in the GTS +5.0 class.

The all-French Greder Racing Team would do the same for the C3 in ’73 and ’74, the last two wins for the C3 and the Corvette overall for the next 21 years, as prototypes would soon come to be the dominate class at Le Mans.

C4 Era: Better Late Than Never

Once the Group C era collapsed in the early Nineties, the doors opened once again for the Corvette to run in the new LM GT2 class. Callaway first attempted to enter their C4-era Supernatural Corvette in 1994, but were disqualified. A year later, though, the team took silver in the same category, with the U.K.’s Agusta Racing Team using their own Callaway Supernatural to snag bronze. A total of four C4s across three teams (including the ZR-1 of ZR-1 Corvette Racing Team, helmed by the late John Paul Jr.) made the attempt, with two failing to finish.

Alas, 1995 would also be the C4’s best year at Le Mans, as only Agusta returned for the ’96 outing, failing to finish. Certainly not the best way to close out the C4 Era. Then again, it was better to arrive late than never at all.

C5 Era: The Birth of Corvette Racing

Gary Pratt and Jim Miller. These two names are forever a part of Corvette’s racing legacy, especially in Chevy’s factory effort, Corvette Racing. The duo were tapped to build the C5-R in 1999, just two years into the C5 Era.

A year later, the C5-R made its Le Mans 24 debut in the LM GTS category, ready to take a few swings at the Dodge Viper. The No. 64 scored bronze, while No. 63 took fourth that year; the two cars also took 10th and 11th overall, respectively. In 2001, though, did Corvette Racing and C5-R beat Dodge and the rest of the LM GTS runners, taking P1 and P2 in the class. The team did the same in 2002 and 2004, again in the then-new GT1 class in 2005, and a final P1 for the C5-R in 2006.

C6 Era: The Hits Don’t Stop Coming

In the C6 Era, Corvette Racing was no longer alone. Teams like PK Carsport, DKR Engineering and Luc Alphand Aventures all took the C6.R as their own. Yet, it wouldn’t be until 2009 when the Corvette would see a P1 finish again, when Corvette Racing snagged the win in the GT1 category; Luc Alphand grabbed P2.

After the Automobile Club de l’Ouest re-worked the categories for the 2010 Le Mans 24, only Luc Alphand brought the C6.R to the podium. After the introduction of the then-new LM GTE Pro class in 2011, Corvette Racing took the first P1 in the category at that year’s race. Labre Competition’s own C6.R took the first P1 in the LM GTE Am, as well, a feat they would do again in 2012. That win would be the last P1 for the C6.R.

C7 Era: The Drought Begins

The C7.R arrived in time to compete in the 2014 Le Mans 24, snagging P2 in its class. While teams like Labre Competition and Callaway would enter their own C7.Rs, Corvette Racing would be the flag carrier for the ‘Vette going forward.

Alas, 2015 would be Corvette Racing’s sole P1 during the C7 Era, as Ford arrived with the GT to relive the Sixties. The remainder of the New ’10s would see the C7.R score one more podium, P2 by Corvette Racing in the 2016 running. Though the ‘Vette did well in IMSA, it was high time for a major change.

C8 Era: A Drop of Rain Falls on Le Mans

We now arrive at last in the C8 Era, itself gotten off to a rocky start thanks to the pandemic. In fact, it was said pandemic which prevented the C8.R from making its debut in the 2020 running of the Le Mans 24.

In 2021, Corvette Racing finally arrived with the new mid-engine wonder, qualifying 34th and 39th overall, 3rd and 8th in the LM GTE Pro category. While Toyota as out murdering the new Hypercar category, the No. 63 C8.R took second in its class; the No. 64 wound up placing sixth, nine laps down due to mechanical issues. Still, perhaps this is a sign of things to come for the new Corvette.

Photos: Chevrolet, GM Heritage Center, Motor1/Ed Baumgarten, 24h-lemans.com, dailysportscar.com

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