The Chevrolet Corvette, a favorite American sports car, was a winner in the showrooms and on the racing tracks. Engineered for performance and with world-class power figures, the Corvette was always a logical choice for racing, but Chevrolet wasn’t always keen on letting it run. However, the Corvette was successful both as a works team and as a private entry, and here are the best racing Vettes ever made.
1. Corvette Stingray XP-87
The story of the 1959 Stingray Concept is fascinating since this car was much more than just another styling exercise. It presented the ’63 Corvette design based on the 1957 Corvette SS experimental race car, which even won the 1960 SCCA championship.
Chevrolet’s engineers managed to keep the weight down to only 2,200 pounds using a lightweight plastic body, race chassis, and aluminum. With a fuel-injected 283 V8 engine and 315 HP, the Stingray Concept had a fantastic performance, which helped it become successful at racing. The car was even featured in Elvis Presley’s movie “Clambake,” but painted red.
2. 1960 Corvette Le Mans
In those days, most racing Corvettes were part of private teams, and Chevrolet itself didn’t have a factory racing project until 1960 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. 1960 was important for the Corvette since the factory backed the famous American racing impresario Biggs Cunningham and his Le Mans effort. Biggs Cunningham was one of the biggest names on the international racing scene in those days, and he tried to win Le Mans several times in his creations but never managed to do so despite good results and lots of effort.
So, on June 26, 1960, a highly modified Chevrolet Corvette became the first American car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. With John Finch and Bob Grossman at the wheel, the Corvette won the GT class in front of numerous Jaguars, Ferraris, and Porsches. The success made Corvette the talk of the global sports car community and transformed it into a respectable force on the racing scene.
3. Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
In the early ’60s, Chevrolet was successful in motorsports. With Zora Arkus Duntov and Ed Cole as head engineers for Corvette, the racing version of the Corvette Stingray was a logical next step in its development. The Corvette has already proven itself on the market, and now it is time to establish itself on the race track. Back then, Ford sponsored the Shelby Cobra, which was dominant at the race tracks. And the Corvette team wanted to beat it.. The Grand Sport Corvette had over 550 hp and was capable of brutal performance. The Corvette team had big plans and entered the Grand Sport Corvettes in several races.
It got promising results until General Motors decided to stop all racing activities in early 1963. For some reason, GM decided to stop investing in all forms of racing. This killed the fantastic Grand Sport program before it could prove its worth, making the Corvette Grand Sport one of the racing world’s greatest “what if” stories. All five cars survived and are accounted for today.
4. 2006 Chevrolet Corvette C6-R
In the late ’90s, Chevrolet decided to enter the GT racing scene with a specially designed and built race car, the Corvette C5 R. The C5 R proved highly successful and opened the way for the C6 R, the next generation, which featured an improved engine and better technology and became one of the most successful American racing cars of all time.
The C6 R debuted in 2005 and stayed in racing use until 2013, which is quite a long time for a high-tech racing machine. The car was built on a Corvette Z06 basis, featuring several V8 engines with displacement varying from 5.5 to 7.0 liters. The Corvette C5 R proved extremely dependable and fast and was well-received by racing teams worldwide. In 2006, this yellow beast managed to repeat history and win the class victory at Le Mans, a success that has since been repeated a few times.
5. Chevrolet Corvette C1 “SS”
The Corvette SS prototype was GM’s first serious stab at sports car racing. Built on a lightweight magnesium alloy chassis and powered by a fuel-injected 283-cubic-inch V8, the SS debuted in the 1957 12 Hours of Sebring. While plagued by mechanical issues, it was clear that Chevrolet intended to bring the fight to Europe.
The car was advanced for its time and laid the foundation for future racing Corvettes. Despite limited success on the track, the SS proved that the Corvette platform had serious racing potential, sparking a movement that would define Corvette’s future.
6. Chevrolet Corvette “Spirit of ’76”
The “Spirit of ’76” Corvette was one of the most patriotic and ambitious racing projects of its time. Built to commemorate America’s bicentennial, this red, white, and blue C3 Corvette was entered in the 1976 24 Hours of Le Mans. Developed by John Greenwood, it featured massive fender flares, a longtail aero kit, and a roaring 7.0-liter V8.
Though it struggled with reliability and didn’t finish the race, its sheer presence and bold livery made it unforgettable. Today, it symbolizes Corvette’s growing international ambitions and remains a favorite among collectors and vintage racing fans.
7. Chevrolet Corvette C5-R (1999-2004)
Arguably, the Corvette that launched the modern era of success, the C5-R, was a dominant force in GT racing. Developed by Pratt & Miller for Corvette Racing, the C5-R was powered by a thunderous 7.0-liter V8 and debuted in 1999.
It claimed three class wins at Le Mans, multiple victories at Sebring, and numerous ALMS championships. With a balanced chassis, brutal straight-line speed, and bulletproof reliability, the C5-R proved that Corvette could hang with—and often beat—the best from Porsche, Ferrari, and Aston Martin. It was the car that made Corvette Racing a global name.
9. Chevrolet Corvette C7.R (2014-2019)
With high-tech engineering and a relentless pace, the C7.R carried Corvette Racing into the next generation. Based on the C7 Z06, it was powered by a 5.5-liter naturally aspirated V8 and built for GTLM competition.
It earned its place among racing royalty by winning class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 24 Hours of Daytona, and the 12 Hours of Sebring—all in the same year (2015), completing the coveted endurance racing “Triple Crown.” The C7.R was admired for its balance, durability, and ability to push the limits of production-based racing. It closed out an era with pride and power.
10. Chevrolet Corvette C8.R (2020-Present)
The C8.R represents the most advanced Corvette race car yet, and the first mid-engine Corvette to hit the track. Powered by a 5.5-liter naturally aspirated flat-plane crank V8, the C8.R competes in IMSA and FIA WEC in the GTD Pro and GTE classes.
Its mid-engine layout gives it exceptional handling balance and aerodynamics, and its precision engineering has already brought class wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and strong showings at Le Mans. The C8.R is not just a new chapter—it’s the future of Corvette Racing, proving that the mid-engine transition was the right move for keeping America competitive on the world stage.