The Corvette LMP1 That Never Was - 10-Tenths Motorsport Forum

WMUCarGuy · 21 May 2009, 00:32

A friend of mine works at Pratt & Miller and he took me on a tour of the P&M facilities last week. One of the most interesting things I got to see was the wind tunnel model of P&M's proposed Corvette LMP1.

Due to the economy, reg changes, and GM's troubles, the car never went any further than this model, but the thing looks absolutely AMAZING! It really has a LOT of Corvette in its design and obviously was designed from the outset to look like a Corvette. This obviously was GM's take on the proposed LMP1 EVO regulations that never came to fruition.

I'm excited to see the GT2 car take on all comers, but oh, what could have been...

Now that my buddy checked with the powers-that-be and he gave me the thumbs up, I can share them with you guys!

Enjoy!

Canada ALMS fan · 21 May 2009, 00:44

Very cool! Thanks. Too bad it never happened even though I wasn't keen on the EVO rules.

rich07 · 21 May 2009, 00:49

Many thanks for sharing this with us WMUCarguy!! Wow that looks really nice, makes you wonder how competitive it couldve been.

WMUCarGuy · 21 May 2009, 01:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich07

Many thanks for sharing this with us WMUCarguy!! Wow that looks really nice, makes you wonder how competitive it couldve been.

Had the LMP1 Evo rules gone into effect, everyone would essentially be starting from a clean sheet of paper, so I'd expect they'd do pretty well. Pratt & Miller is a MUCH more capable firm than many of the current smaller LMP producers, so I'd put my money on them doing pretty well.

Sadly that bet will never be taken.

porsche91722 · 21 May 2009, 09:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by WMUCarGuy

Had the LMP1 Evo rules gone into effect, everyone would essentially be starting from a clean sheet of paper, so I'd expect they'd do pretty well. Pratt & Miller is a MUCH more capable firm than many of the current smaller LMP producers, so I'd put my money on them doing pretty well.

Sadly that bet will never be taken.

Was there any hint or suggestion from your mate re anything happening in the future (post recession) other than the GT2 Corvette?
You can tell us, we will keep it to ourselves

**Dani Filth** · 21 May 2009, 09:59

looks a bit like an updated IMSA Corvette GTP

**FIRE** · 21 May 2009, 11:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dani Filth

looks a bit like an updated IMSA Corvette GTP

Agree

deggis · 21 May 2009, 12:30

Remember ACO's mockup from 2007?

WMUCarGuy · 21 May 2009, 14:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by deggis

Remember ACO's mockup from 2007?

It's almost identical in most respects. I'm wondering if that rendering wasn't done by P&M in the first place and just used as the poster child for EVO.

WMUCarGuy · 21 May 2009, 14:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche91722

Was there any hint or suggestion from your mate re anything happening in the future (post recession) other than the GT2 Corvette?
You can tell us, we will keep it to ourselves

He didn't know, but at this point, it's not looking like that car will ever be elligible to race anywhere, so I'm not getting any hopes up.

zac510 · 21 May 2009, 16:13

That looks so much different to current LMP regs. So this was made in approx 2007 after the LMP Evo proposals came out?

Enormous splitter and tiny diffuser.. I wonder how that would have worked out for downforce balance.

MulsanneMike · 21 May 2009, 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by zac510

That looks so much different to current LMP regs. So this was made in approx 2007 after the LMP Evo proposals came out?

Enormous splitter and tiny diffuser.. I wonder how that would have worked out for downforce balance.

As well as it works on the Acura, Peugeot, Audi...etc. Same underfloor aero package is on that model as is currently being raced.

PorscheFanNo1 · 21 May 2009, 23:22

So it was all true then

zac510 · 22 May 2009, 09:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by MulsanneMike

As well as it works on the Acura, Peugeot, Audi...etc. Same underfloor aero package is on that model as is currently being raced.

I have never noticed the splitter being that big but it's probably to do with the curved shape of the front guard/fender whereas on the current protos they are squared off a bit more.
And it's aluminium so its colour/size stands out so much.

knighty · 22 May 2009, 21:40

I still believe its an absolute travesty that the 7.0 GT1 engine has not yet found its way into the back of an LMP1 car......I know Martin Short even visited Katech to scope out the possibility of placing it in the back of his pescarolo LMP1.....then more recently Luc Alphand was trying to piece and LMP1 deal together......but still nobody has done it......personally I believe it will potentially be the best LMP1 gasoline engine if it ever gets into the back of a good LMP1 car......it will have drastically more torque than the Judd or AMR V12......its actually very light considering its capacity too......it was the best GT1 engine ever......the astons could never really compete with it.