An unexpected crossover! Next-gen NASCAR racecar joins Le Mans

When you think about the 24-hour Le Mans race, you think of sleek hypercar racecars all vying for the top spot in the historic endurance race. However, the last thing you would expect to see at the event is a next-generation NASCAR racecar duking it out with the rest of them.

It is what happened this year as NASCAR celebrates its 75th birthday. The premier stock car championship has entered the prestigious endurance race to mark the momentous occasion. 

The next-gen cup series Chevrolet Camaro racecar has been modified for the endurance race and runs under the ‘Garage 56’ banner, a one-car category for prototype vehicles using new technologies seen in other racing disciplines. 

Behind the wheel of the NASCAR racecar for the race will be three famous drivers in the form of 2009 Formula 1 champion Jenson Button, 7-time NASCAR Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, and 2010 Le Man's winner Mike Rockenfeller. The driver selection brings the best from three different motorsport disciplines making for an exciting lineup for the endurance race. 

The car competing in Le Mans is a next-gen Chevrolet Camaro run by Hendrick Motorsports. Hendrick Motorsports is among the most successful teams in the stock car racing series.

So, why is it there?

The main reason why a NASCAR racecar is running in the endurance race is because of marketing. The stock car racing series has chosen Le Mans as an ideal event to promote its brand, as it is considered one of the biggest races in the world. 

It allows the brand to be seen internationally using the Garage 56 slot to showcase its latest technologies. 

It benefits both parties as Le Mans also wants to make it big in America, so it works both ways for the brands.

“From the early days of NASCAR, it was important to my father that we played a visible role in international motorsports, and there is no bigger stage than the 24 Hours of Le Mans,” NASCAR CEO Jim France.

How has the NASCAR racecar been modified?

The NASCAR racecar remains largely stock as how it would appear in its home racing series. Its engine, suspension, and crash structure have all remained untouched.

However, the bodywork of the vehicle is where it differs from its stock form. It now features carbon composite elements not present in the traditional cup car to help save some weight. The car's weight has decreased from 3,485lb (1,580kg) to 2,960lb (1,342kg).

It also receives a new set of carbon brakes to give it better and more consistent stopping performance during the grueling 24-hour race. 

Aside from the brakes, the racecar also gets a new set of winglets, a new undertray, and a splitter to increase its downforce. To help it last longer, it has also been kitted out with a bigger fuel tank that can hold 145 liters reducing the need to stop for fuel. 

The car's gearbox has also been swapped out for a paddle shifter unit with a different steering wheel to allow for easier use. 

For better grip, the NASCAR racecar has also been equipped with bigger 13.5-inch tires, which is a significant leap in size compared to the standard 12-inch set of rubber that it is typically equipped with. 

All these modifications give the racecar respectable times, making it faster than a few GTE-AM cars and quicker than a handful of LMP2 cars.

What do you think of this unique crossover of two different racing disciplines?

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