The C5-R is a variation of the Corvette C5 that was specifically designed for racing. This car was constructed by Pratt & Miller, and there are a number of things which separate it form the original C5. First, it had a longer wheelbase, and the track is wider. The engine has been increased in size to a 7.0 L V8, and the bodywork is slightly different. The C5-R also uses headlamps which are exposed. The C5-R has competed in a number of prominent races, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Overall, the C5-R has performed well at the task for which it was designed.
In 2001, this car emerged victorious in the 24 Hours of Daytona. The C5-R won eight out of ten races, and it also performed well in the Le Mans for the GTS class. In 2002, this model continued to dominate in races. It had another win at the Le Mans, and it also demonstrated its prowess at the American Le Mans Series. The company made a number of changes to the model during this time. The separate transmission/differential was replaced with a transaxle that was brand new. The C5-R had to contend with the likes of the Prodrive Ferrari 550, and while the Ferrari appeared to have the edge in earlier laps, the C5-R surpassed it by the end, winning the race and showing that Corvettes had the engineering capabilities to content with European vehicles.
In 2003, a number of regulations were placed on vehicles that wanted to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The power was decreased by 10 percent, and this was done to slow down the cars. At the beginning of the race, the C5-Rs continued to dominate, and one of these cars finished in eighth place in the first class. The company also abandoned the original yellow color of the C5-R and replaced it with red, white, and blue, which was used to represent both the United States and the 50 year anniversary of the Corvette's introduction. Despite this, the Ferrari would emerge victorious in this race.
Despite this, the C5-R made an excellent return in 2004, and it was the winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans within its class. Again, while the Ferrari led the race at the outset, because they had to go for 12 hours, they eventually begin having problems, and the C5-R was able to gain more laps, eventually winning the race. By 2005, the Corvette demonstrated that it would continue the success of the previous year. When the car competed in the FIA GT, it won a number of races, and it continued its legacy of success.
The C5-R is remarkable for a number of reasons. By winning so many races, it showed that the company could compete with their European counterparts. For many years, European sports car companies looked down on the Corvette for its "crude" design, but after years of refinement, the Corvette can compete with the best of the best.