Difference between revisions of "Pratt & Miller"

← Older edit

Pratt & Miller (view source)

Revision as of 02:19, 4 February 2009

11,186 bytes removed , 02:19, 4 February 2009

m

Robot: Automated text replacement (-{{.*stub}} +)

Budlight

Bots, Bureaucrats, Administrators

529

edits

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[Image:Corvette C6R Road America 3.jpg|thumb|right|250px|One of [[Corvette Racing]]'s C6.Rs, driven by [[Jan Magnussen]] and [[Johnny O'Connell]].]]
+[[Image:Corvette C6R Road America 3.jpg|thumb|right|175px|A [[Chevrolet Corvette C6.R]].]]
-The '''Chevrolet Corvette C6.R''' is a [[grand tourer]] [[racing car]] built by [[Pratt & Miller]] and [[General Motors]] for competition in [[endurance racing (motorsport)|endurance racing]].  It is a replacement for the [[Chevrolet Corvette C5-R|Corvette C5-R]] racing car, applying the body style of the new [[Chevrolet Corvette C6|C6 generation]] [[Chevrolet Corvette]] as well as improvements to increase the speed and reliability on the track.  Since its debut in 2005, it has continued on from the previous dominance of the C5-R in its racing class with multiple [[American Le Mans Series]] championships and race wins in the [[Le Mans Series]], [[FIA GT Championship]], and [[24 Hours of Le Mans]].
+[[Image:Cadillac CTS-V SWC.jpg|thumb|right|175px|A [[Cadillac CTS-V]].]]
+[[Image:TRG GTO.jpg|thumb|right|175px|A [[Pontiac GTO]].R.]]
+'''Pratt & Miller Engineering and Fabrication''' is a company formed by Gary Pratt and Jim Miller in 1989.
-==Development==
+Based out of [[New Hudson]], [[Michigan]], they have been one of [[General Motors]] official [[auto racing|racing]] teams since 1999 when they were key in the development of the [[Chevrolet Corvette C5-R]].  Today, Pratt & Miller constructs, maintains, and runs the [[American Le Mans Series]] [[Chevrolet Corvette|Corvette]] Racing team with [[Chevrolet Corvette C6.R]]s as well as the [[Speed World Challenge]] Team [[Cadillac]] [[Cadillac CTS-V|CTS-V]]s.  The company also builds and maintains the [[Pontiac GTO]].Rs and [[Pontiac G6|Pontiac GXP.R]]s for various teams in the [[Rolex Sports Car Series]].  The company also did work on the development of the [[Qvale Mangusta]] and [[Ford GT]].
-Having already established the C5-R as a winning car, the development of the C6.R was more of an evolution of a design rather than an all new car which required long periods of testing and design.  Pratt & Miller's process was aided by the fact that, unlike the C5-R which debuted several years after the C5 generation Corvette was on the streets, the C6.R and C6 generation Corvettes would be developed at the same time.  This meant that design elements which would help the race car could be adapted to the road car, allowing the C6.R to use more exotic design features but still meet homologation requirements.  In turn, this meant racing elements could be adapted to the Corvette Z06 performance car, which the C6.R shares it exterior styling with.
-[[Image:Corvette C6.R Atlanta esses.jpg|thumb|left|250px|A rear-view of a C6.R, showing the [[air conditioner]] exhaust fan located in the center of the bodywork.]]
-Much of the framework of the road legal C6 was retained on the C6.R, leading to increased use of weight-saving [[aluminium]].  The road car would also replace the C5's pop-up headlights with permanent designs integrated into the bodywork.  This meant that the racing car would have better air flow over the front of the car, doing away with their replacements for the pop-up headlights which stuck out of the bodywork.  The large grill opening on the car would also serve to eliminate the variety of openings on the C5-R to feed not only the brake cooling ducts, but also help with downforce by exiting back out the top of the bonnet.
-Underneath, the C6.R retained much of the mechanical elements from the C5-R.  The same Katech-built 7.0&nbsp;litre V8 was used, but more closely based on the [[GM LS engine|LS7]] from the Z06.  This engine, known as the ''LS7.R'', would go on to earn the Global Motorsports Engine of the Year award in 2006 for its performance and endurance capabilities.  Like the C5-R, the C6.R lacked a rear window due to structural framework and fuel tanks taking up the space behind the cockpit.  However, an innovation on the C6.R was the addition of a small video camera into the rear bumper, and a monitor placed on the roof of the cockpit.  This allowed the drivers a better view behind them, instead of having to rely on their side mirrors.
+Since their alliance with General Motors, Pratt & Miller have won numerous championships and famous racing events.  Corvette Racing has won their class at the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]] five times, claimed the overall victory at the [[24 Hours of Daytona]] in 2001, and won seven straight American Le Mans Series championships.  Team Cadillac won the 2005 Speed World Challenge in the team's debut season, while [[The Racer's Group]], running Pratt & Miller-built Pontiac GTO.Rs, won the [[Rolex Sports Car Series]] championship in 2006.  GM Racing's tuned LS7.R small-block engine was also named the 2006 Global Motorsport Engine of the Year.
-Another innovation was the use of an [[air conditioning]] system in the car in order to help drivers better endure high cockpit temperatures.  This required the addition of a large suction fan to the rear of the car, as well as intakes integrated into the side mirrors.  One innovation which the C6.R debuted in 2007 was the use of [[variable displacement]].  This system would disable half of the cylinders in the engine during caution periods in order to increase fuel economy when speed was not important.  Although the system was tested during the season, its failure at the [[2007 24 Hours of Le Mans]] led the team to remove it from the cars until it could be further evaluated.
+Pratt & Miller developed a road-going [[car tuning|tuned]] version of the [[Chevrolet Corvette C6]] named C6RS.
-As of the end of the 2007 season, six C6.Rs had been built by Pratt & Miller.  A seventh car, used for development work, was actually built on a C5-R chassis but adapted to carry C6.R bodywork.  This car has never raced and is used merely as a show car, making its public debut alongside the C6 Corvette at the 2005 [[North American International Auto Show]].
+==External links==
+* [http://prattmiller.com/ Pratt & Miller Engineering and Fabrication]
-==Racing history==
+* [http://www.corvetteracing.com/ Corvette Racing]
-===Corvette Racing===
+* [http://www.cadillac.com/cadillacjsp/spotlight/teamcadillac/index.jsp Team Cadillac]
-[[Image:Le Mans 2005 CorvetteC6R.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A C6.R driving down the pit lane during the [[2005 24 Hours of Le Mans]].]]
+* [http://www.pontiac.com/divisional/newsevents/news_motorsports.jsp Pontiac Motorsport]
-[[Image:Corvette C6R St Pete.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The C6.R in 2008, now running [[E85]] [[ethanol]] fuel.]]
-Following the retirement of the C5-R at the end of 2004, the factory Corvette Racing squad started 2005 with two brand new C6.Rs.  Unlike the previous car, which had only ran select events until it could be proven quick and reliable, the C6.Rs would compete in the full [[American Le Mans Series]] season in their first year.  The season did not begin as Corvette Racing had planned however, as the equally new [[Prodrive]] [[Aston Martin DBR9]] managed to win the event, earning Corvette Racing their first loss since the end of 2003.  Prodrive returned to Europe after Sebring, and Corvette Racing was able to earn wins in each of the succeeding races that season.  Even when Prodrive returned for the final two rounds, the improved Corvettes continued their streak and won both races.  The C6.Rs also ventured to Europe for the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]], where the team were able to outlast the quicker DBR9s to earn a 1-2 victory and finish fifth and sixth overall.
-In 2006, Prodrive chose to concentrate on the American Le Mans Series, giving Corvette Racing a battle throughout the season.  Corvette Racing avenged their loss at Sebring, but Aston Martin managed their own victories later in the season.  The two teams were close in the points championship throughout the season, before Corvette Racing managed to earn a three-point margin in the last race and won their second straight championship.  At Le Mans, the Aston Martins once again faltered with reliability problems after leading the event, allowing a Corvette C6.R to finish the race fourth overall and win the GT1 class.
-Following the 2006 season, Prodrive returned to Europe to concentrate on improving the DBR9 for Le Mans.  This meant that Corvette Racing was left without a major opponent in the American Le Mans Series, and in fact were the only competitors in the GT1 class for nine out of twelve races that year, and easily allowing Corvette Racing to earn their third championship.  At Le Mans, the Corvettes were not able to repeat their previous success as Aston Martin was finally able to reliably maintain their pace over 24 hours and earn their first class victory, leaving Corvette Racing with second.
-In order to honor Canadian driver [[Ron Fellows]], Corvette Racing entered a third C6.R at the [[2007 Grand Prix of Mosport|Grand Prix of Mosport]].  This third car was painted in white and red colors to match the Ron Fellows Edition Corvette Z06, a limited edition road car in honor of Fellows's involvement with the Corvette Racing program since its inception.  Ron Fellows drove the car for his home race.
-Corvette Racing plans to continue to run the C6.Rs in the American Le Mans Series and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2008.
-===Privateer teams===
-Like the C5-R, C6.Rs which had been used by the factory team eventually ended up in the hands of privateers once they were replaced by newer chassis.  Unlike before, these Corvettes were sold less then a year after they had debuted, rather than the four years it took for a C5-R to be sold to another team.
-====GLPK-Carsport====
-[[Image:GLPK Corvette.jpg|thumb|right|250px|GLPK-Carsport's C6.R running in the [[2006 FIA GT Dubai 500km]].]]
-Buying one of the two C6.Rs used by Corvette Racing during the 2005 season, GLPK-Carsport added this chassis to their stable to replace their C5-R in the [[FIA GT Championship]].  The driving team of Bert Longin, Anthony Kumpen, and Mike Hezemans drove the car throughout the season, and were able to score a victory at [[2006 FIA GT Paul Ricard 500km|Paul Ricard]] as well as a third place finish at the [[2006 Spa 24 Hours|Spa 24 Hours]].  The team eventually ended the season in fifth place in the championship.
-For 2007, GLPK Carsport was split into Carsport Holland and PK-Carsport.  PK-Carsport returned to running the C5-R they ran in Belcar to FIA GT, while Carsport Holland took over the C6.R.
-====Carsport Holland====
-Continuing where the former GLPK-Carsport had left off, Carsport Holland's Mike Hezemans and partner Phoenix Racing's [[Jean-Denis Délétraz]] improved on the C6.R's position the previous season.
-Carsport Holland won the [[2007 Spa 24 Hours|Spa 24 Hours]].  Joined by [[Marcel Fässler (racer)|Marcel Fässler]] and [[Fabrizio Gollin]], the team was able to fend off the [[Vitaphone Racing]] [[Maserati]] and earn Corvette's first victory at the endurance event.  Carsport Holland earned one final victory at [[2007 FIA GT Nogaro 2 Hours|Nogaro]] before closing the season fourth in the teams' championship and third in the drivers' championship.
-====PSI Experience====
-At the same time that GLPK-Carsport purchased an ex-factory C6.R, PSI Experience also bought a C6.R to add alongside their C5-R.  PSI Experience chose to concentrate their efforts on the French [[FFSA GT Championship]] as well as joining the [[Le Mans Series]].  The team earned one victory at Lédenon for FFSA, while a third at the [[2006 1000km of Spa|1000 km of Spa]] was their best result in the LMS.  PSI also chose to enter a few FIA GT rounds, most notably the Spa 24 Hours.  The team finished fifth in the event, before joining FIA GT once again at [[2006 FIA GT Paul Ricard 500km|Paul Ricard]] and finishing second behind GLPK-Carsport's C6.R.
-For 2007, PSI's C6.R was entered mostly in FFSA GT events, while select appearances in FIA GT as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans were made.  PSI once again managed a sole win in FFSA, winning at the final round at [[Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours|Magny-Cours]].  Their best FIA GT result was a second place at the season opener in [[2007 FIA GT Zhuhai 2 Hours|Zhuhai]].  In the team's debut at the [[2007 24 Hours of Le Mans|24 Hours of Le Mans]], their C6.R was able to finish, but in a distant 28th place.
-====Luc Alphand Aventures====
-[[Image:Luc Alphand Corvette 72.jpg|thumb|right|Luc Alphand's #72 C6.R, winner of the GT1 class Drivers and Teams Championships in the [[2008 Le Mans Series season]]]]
-Another team who had already purchased a C5-R previously, [[Luc Alphand]]'s squad purchased a C6.R to run alongside their C5-R in the [[Le Mans Series]] as the team earned factory support from Pratt & Miller for their European campaign.  The car began the year with a victory at the [[2007 1000km of Monza|1000 km of Monza]] before following it with a second at the [[2007 1000km of Nürburgring|1000 km of Nürburgring]] and earning them second in their class championship.  The team's two cars were also entered in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with the C6.R earning a 12th place finish and 7th in GT1.
-As part of Pratt & Miller's support of Luc Alphand, Corvette Racing drivers [[Oliver Gavin]] and [[Olivier Beretta]] were entered in Luc Alphand's C6.R for the Spa 24 Hours.  The team managed to finish in sixth place.
-==Pratt & Miller C6RS==
-It is a conversion of Corvette Z06 that resembles C6.R and shares components with the race car, produced by Pratt & Miller. It uses [[Katech Performance]] 8.2L engine rated 600 horsepower and 600 lb-ft torque. The car has top speed of 202mph.<ref>[http://www.prattmillerc6rs.com/202.htm PRATT & MILLER CORVETTE C6RS Tops 200 mph in Speed Test]</ref> The production began on April 2008.<ref>[http://www.prattmillerc6rs.com/pressrelease.htm Pratt & Miller Engineering Introduces Corvette C6RS Supercar for the Street]</ref> 25 were produced in the first year.<ref>[http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=123323 Pratt & Miller To Build Just 25 Corvette C6RS Supercars in 2008]</ref>
-A version running E85 ethanol was created with [[Jay Leno]], appeared in 2007 SEMA show.<ref>[http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/10/29/sema-2007-jay-lenos-new-e85-c6rs-corvette/ SEMA 2007: Jay Leno's new E85 C6RS Corvette]</ref>
-Convertible version was unveiled in 2008 [[12 Hours of Sebring]].<ref>[http://www.prattmillerc6rs.com/c6rs_sebring.htm Pratt & Miller To Unveil Convertible C6RS Supercar At Sebring 12-Hour Race]</ref>
-==Future Development==
-On September 9th, 2008 Corvette Racing GM Road Racing Group manager Steve Wesoloski and Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan announced that for the 2009 ALMS season they would be running the C6.R in the GT1 class for only the first half of the season.  After the 24 hours of Le Mans, Corvette Racing will be running a newly designed C6.R in the GT2 class in preparation for the 2010 season's newly designed GT class regulations.
-==References==
-{{reflist}}
-==External links==
-{{commonscat|Chevrolet Corvette C6.R}}
-*[http://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/sportscar/258133/corvette-c6r.html C6R Technical Review]
-*[http://www.corvettemotorsport.com Corvette Racing Europe]
-*[http://palmeter.com/C6RChasSNHist.htm C6.R Chassis History]
-*[http://www.corvetteracing.com/ Corvette Racing]
-*[http://www.prattmillerc6rs.com/ Pratt & Miller C6RS]
-*[http://www.psi-motorsport.com/racing/index.php PSI Motorsport]
-*[http://www.luc-alphand.com/courses/ Luc Alphand Aventures] (French)
-{{Corvette timeline}}
-[[Category:Chevrolet Corvette|C6.R]]
+[[Category:Companies established in 1989]]
-[[Category:Grand tourer racing cars]]
+[[Category:American auto racing teams]]
+[[Category:General Motors]]
+[[Category:Chevrolet Corvette]]
+[[Category:24 Hours of Le Mans entrants]]
+[[Category:American Le Mans Series teams]]