1999
Le Mans 24Hr Pace Cars
1999 Corvettes
paced an international field of sports cars as the Official
Pace Car of the 67th running of the
Le Mans 24 Hour race on June 12-13, 1999.
Located
150 miles west of Paris in Le Mans, France, this legendary
racing event is an absolute endurance test of both man and
machine. By becoming part of the rich history and tradition
of Le Mans, automakers take the
challenge to prove their "global" expertise in automotive
engineering and design.
Corvette's
participation as the Official Pace Car of the
Le Mans 24 Hour race was a key component of Chevrolet's strategy
to reinforce Corvette's image as a world-class sports car.
Involvement in such a global event showcases the fact that
Corvettes are sold not only in the U.S., but around the world
as well.
Chevrolet
officially returned to American road racing earlier this year
with the introduction of the C5-R, a GM-engineered GTS sports
car based on the production Corvette.
All 1999
Corvettes came standard with a 345-horsepower, 5.7-liter V-8
LS1 aluminum block engine, a six-speed manual transmission,
a 3.42 limited-slip rear axle ratio, the Z51 suspension package
(designed for sanctioned racing competition), speed-sensitive
power rack-and-pinion steering, anti-lock (ABS) brakes, electronic
traction control and Goodyear Eagle F-1 GS run-flat
tires. Only the Corvette coupe and convertible were offered
in the international marketplace this year.
The only
modifications made to the production vehicles for pace car
duties include custom wheels and exhaust system, a unique
paint scheme and installation of roof-mounted safety lights.
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