2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype

General Motors has welcomed a new member in its extended family of racing cars with the presentation of the 2012 Chevy Corvette Daytona Prototype that was unveiled on Tuesday at the Daytona International Speedway.

The racing model takes advantage of the GRAND-AM serie’s new regulations that gives more freedom to manufacturers to showcase their brand's design.

The purpose built Corvette Daytona Prototype borrows several styling cues from the production ZR1, mainly up front, and to a lesser extent, certain elements of the greenhouse and the rear end.

“The IMSA GTP Corvette Prototype campaigned by Hendrick Motorsports in the '80s was the inspiration for this new Chevrolet Corvette Daytona Prototype," said Mark Kent, GM Racing director. "And, like the GTP Corvettes, the new Corvette Daytona Prototype contains numerous styling cues from the street version of the Chevrolet Corvette.”

The prototype was developed by Chevrolet, Corvette Designers, Pratt & Miller and GRAND-AM, while chassis builders Riley, Coyote and Dallara, also provided their expertise.

GM said that four teams will campaign the Corvette Daytona Prototype in 2012 -No. 90 Spirit of Daytona Racing; No. 10 SunTrust Racing; No. 99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing, and the Nos. 5 and 9 Action Express Racing teams.

The racing prototype will make its first appearance on the track during a GRAND-AM test at Daytona International Speedway on Wednesday, November 16, while its competition debut will take place in the 50th anniversary of the GRAND-AM Road Racing Series Rolex 24 at Daytona from January 26-29, 2012.