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There have been a variety of unbelievable race vehicles working round tracks in 2023, from new Le Mans prototypes like Ferrari’s profitable 499P to hybrid WRC monsters and the second 12 months of Components 1’s redesigned vehicles. However one race automotive captured the world’s consideration greater than anything: the NASCAR-based Storage 56 Chevy Camaro that competed at Le Mans. Hendrick Motorsports wasn’t glad with simply racing on the famed French circuit, so it introduced the Camaro to Automobile And Driver’s yearly Lightning Lap competitors at Virginia Worldwide Raceway.
In case you’re not acquainted, the Storage 56 Camaro is principally a next-gen NASCAR with some aerodynamic modifications that made it appropriate for endurance racing, and regardless of a transaxle failure, it was in a position to full 285 laps of Le Mans and end after the complete 24 hours. At Lightning Lap it was piloted by Jordan Taylor, a longtime IMSA racer who has gained the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, positioned first in a number of championships and has a pleasant alter-ego named Rodney Sandstorm.
Taylor’s 2:26.7 lap time didn’t fairly nab the general file — that crown was taken by Subaru’s Airslayer gymkhana automotive with a time of two:25.6 — its common velocity of 158.5 mph was over 20 mph quicker than any avenue automotive C/D has lapped, and virtually 6 mph quicker than the Subie. The Camaro’s time can be almost ten seconds faster than C/D’s street-car file, a lap of two:34.9 set by a McLaren Senna in 2019.
As a part of the Lightning Lap protection Taylor sat down with C/D to speak about his expertise driving the automotive at VIR, which you’ll be able to watch within the video above that features footage of the lap each with and with out his commentary. He provides some nice perception into how a lot enjoyable the automotive was to drive and why it was in a position to go so freakin’ quick. Taylor says Lighting Lap is likely to be one of many newest aggressive issues the Storage 56 automotive ever does, which is a rattling disgrace, however at the very least we’ll all the time have this video.
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