Corvette C5 Racing History
David Palmeter
C5-R – Chassis C5R-001
This is the first C5-R racing chassis and was used extensively as the original test and promotional car.
Above: C5R-001 was completed on November 1, 1998.
Above – 1998 – C5R-001 was used for many of the early publicity photos. It never raced as #1 and, to my knowledge, never raced with the headlight covers.
1999 Racing Season
Above – 1999-01-31 – The first race for the C5-R, Daytona 24 hour. It had a 366 cubic inch engine.
Above – 1999-10-10 – The first race for the 427 engine – Laguna Seca.
| C5-R Racing Team 1999 Race Results | ||||||||
| Date | Venue | Duration | Series | Class | Car | Start | Finish | |
| 31-Jan | Daytona, Fl | 24hrs | USRRC | GT2 | C5R-001 | 2 | 2 | |
| Daytona, Fl | 24hrs | USRRC | GT2 | C5R-002 | 4 | 12 | ||
| 20-Mar | Sebring, FL | 12 hrs | ALMS | GTS | C5R-001 | 1 | 4 | |
| 12 hrs | ALMS | GTS | C5R-002 | 2 | 7* | |||
| 19-Sep | Road Atlanta, GA | 100km | ALMS | GTS | C5R-001 | 3 | 5 | |
| 100km | ALMS | GTS | C5R-002 | 4 | 4 | |||
| 10-Oct | Laguna Seca | 2hrs 45min | ALMS | GTS | C5R-001 | 3 | 2 | |
| 7-Nov | Las Vegas | 2hrs 45min | ALMS | GTS | C5R-001 | 3 | 3 | |
| *Did Not Finish | ||||||||
2000 Testing
Above – 2000-01 – Sebring test in the patriotic red, white and blue color scheme that I like the best of all of the C5-R paint jobs. Unfortunately, it was never raced in this color. It was created for the November, 1999 SEMA show. Some of the race team members were less enthused than I and called this student design “The Tennis Shoe”.
2000 Racing Season
Above – 2000 – Since Millennium Yellow was the hot new color for the millennium year of 2000, someone at GM or Chevrolet or, most likely, an advertising agency, decided that it would be the best marketing color. Why would they want to represent the USA in red, white and blue?
Above – 2000-02-06 – On the high banks of Daytona for the 24-hour race.
Above – 2000-02-06 – Right side detail.
Above – 2000-02-06 – Rear detail.
Above – 2000-02-06 – Engine detail.
Above – 2000-02-06 – Heading for a hard fought 2nd in class and 2nd overall!
Above – 2000-06 – All decked out in Le Mans war paint for the final race for C5R-001. Ironically, it was the C5-R race car’s first trip to the Le Mans 24 hour race.
Above – 2002-12-19 – From Bob Craig: “Corvette C5-R #001 is now in private hands. The Auto Museum of Cincinnati, OH, a private collection, took delivery at Pratt & Miller this morning, 12/19/02. Feel free to use (the) picture on your website but I would appreciate credit & a link to my site (look there for other pictures of 001) and (coming soon) more from the P&M shop.”
See April 11, 2020 comment below –
George Krass says: I actually own C5R #001. I bought it last year from the collector in Cincinnati Ohio. (According to a January 2, 2014 article in “LSX Magazine” by NIGEL DOBBIE, George also owns C5R-008 and races it!)
I know own C5-R Chassis #001. George and I made a trade so that he would have both blue race cars #008 and #009. Those two cars look so awesome together!! Thanks for keeping these cars alive here on the web. There’s a ton of passion out there for these old GT1 war horses.
Thanks for your comments.
I actually own C5R #001. I bought it last year from the collector in Cincinnati Ohio.
Hi George, Thanks for the update, your car has quite a history! I don’t suppose you would be interested in painting it in the red, white and blue livery? I would be very happy to update this page with a picture of you with the car (regardless of the color, lol). Regards, David
Hi David, I am sorry for the late response I did not realize you had messaged me. The best way to contact me is Georgekrass@sbcglobal.net or my cell phone 630-742-9003. My C5R #008 chassis #008 actually is in the red white and blue colors! I would be glad to get you some photos of it.
Chassis #001 is in the yellow and white colors currently.
Thank you for sharing. These were extremely helpful while I was creating a replica livery in Gran Turismo Sport. It’s nice to see someone else with an extreme passion for the C5-R’s. Cheers!
Glad to help! Be well.