Chevy Camaro to be Official Pace Car of the Daytona 500

Camaro5 has posted a snapshot of a local ad showing the Daytona 500 official pace car, and it is the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. The ad shows a stock V6 RS model, but we would expect that to change if not in the motor then in the design.

Chevrolet would undoubtedly offer a pace car edition of the Camaro if this is indeed true. Click the link to check out some speculative renderings by some readers of Camaro5.

New Shelby Mustang "R" race only model

Image via Wikipedia

Shelby has released official details on it's newest car, a race-only R-Model commemorating Jerry Titus' 1965 SCCA Championship with the original Shelby GT-350R. One would imagine that the car would be based on the 2010 Mustang, but instead it will be a 07-08.

Each car gets a nice level of performance upgrades, including a Ford Racing supercharger good for 550 horsepower, a six-speed Tremec TR6060 transmission, 3.73:1 gears, Grand-Am spec roll cage, side-exit exhaust system, differential and transmission coolers, racing brakes with cooling ducts, unique grill, carbon fiber rear wing, and an "R Model" dash plaque.

Production will be extremely limited, with Shelby promising to only build up to 37 examples, the same number produced as the original R-Model, at total cost of $134,995. The cars won't be legal for street use, but they do qualify for NASA American Iron's Extreme class.

No pictures have been released of the car yet, but we'll have them for you as soon as they are released.

PRESS RELEASE:

Four decades after Shelby and Ford collaborated on a race version of the legendary Mustang, the companies are offering a limited edition track day version of the Ford Shelby GT. Ford Racing and Shelby Automobiles, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: CSBI) will commemorate the 1965 SCCA championship of Jerry Titus and final production of the current generation Mustang by offering up to 37 total 550 horsepower Shelby GT "R Model." The 2009 Shelby GT "R Model" will be available for US$134,995.

"In 1965, my team built 37 small block 'R Model' race-only versions of the Shelby GT350 Mustang that kicked tails on circuits worldwide," said Carroll Shelby, founder of Shelby Automobiles. "Working with Ford Racing, we're going to build a new track day 'R Model' version of the Ford Shelby GT. It'll be lots of fun to drive and ready to rip up the pavement right out of the box."

The track day car will be featured as a "Jerry Titus Drivers Edition" to honor his 1965 "B Production" championship, which was the first for a Shelby Mustang. Jerry was one of the special drivers who piloted Shelby Mustangs to total domination on the track. Not only did he win the first championship, he broke the story of the "R Model" to the world in Sports Car Graphic and was instrumental in its development. The 2009 Jerry Titus Edition "R Model" lives up to his performance legacy.

The "R Model" version of the Mustang will be a purpose-built track car based on the same 4.6-liter V8 that powers every Ford Shelby GT; the vehicles cannot be registered for the street. Additional power will come from the Ford Racing/Whipple Twin Screw intercooled supercharger installed by Shelby and mated to a T6060 GT500-based six speed transmission before the Shelby team inserts them into the race-ready chassis. Each will be painted white with silver stripes and documented in the Shelby Registry. The racer qualifies for the NASA "American Iron Extreme" class and an excellent all-around track car that is uniquely Shelby.

"From the competition brakes to the straight pipes, this fantastic car is worthy of the 'R Model' designation," stated Amy Boylan, President of Shelby Automobiles. "Working closely with Ford Racing, we engineered a car with the balanced handling, serious power and spectacular brakes that serious enthusiasts want. And just like the car driven by Jerry Titus in 1965, this Ford Shelby GT 'R Model' showcases our expertise in an affordable, turnkey package."

The "R Model" is based on the 2007-08 model Ford Shelby GT. The streetcar is a well-balanced, fun to drive machine that leveraged Shelby's experience making Mustangs go faster.

"The Shelby name has stood for performance since Carroll began building cars for the track in 1962," added Brian Wolfe, director, Ford North America Motorsports. "Track Day enthusiasts have been asking for a contemporary Shelby and Ford Track Car for some time, so we at Ford Racing are pleased to team up with Shelby Automobiles to build a handful of very special cars. We look forward to watching them roar past Camaros and Challengers when they show up at the track."

2009 Ford Shelby GT "R Model" track day car highlights:


4.6-liter supercharged V-8 producing an estimated 550-horsepower
6-speed manual transmission with GT500 clutch, Ford Racing short- throw shifter and 3.73:1 gears
Grand-Am spec roll cage
Upgraded cooling system including differential and transmission coolers
Shelby performance side exhaust system
Lightweight production chassis with tuned suspension tuning including new springs
Shelby-designed 18-inch wheels with racing tires
Racing brakes with front brake cooling ducts
Unique grill featuring classic Shelby 'R Model' design
'Shelby' lettering across the front edge of hood and rear decklid, Shelby badges on the quarter panels
Carbon fiber rear racing wing with billet stanchions and carbon fiber splitter
White with silver stripes livery and racing mirrors
Carroll Shelby autograph on each car and official Shelby "R Model" dash plate
A limited number will be built; orders will be accepted starting today by calling Shelby Autos at (702) 942-7325

Chevrolet Corvette GT-1 Championship Edition

And the Corvette special editions keep on rolling. The latest edition to the family is this GT-1 Championship Edition, created to celebrate the Corvette's last hurrah in the current GT-1 class this year.

The GT-1 package will come in yellow with black stripes, or black with yellow stripes, and be available on the coupe, convertible, and Z06. The yellow windshield banner from the C6.R will be in place, and the car will also feature "Jake," the racing team's mascot (the yellow skull with the Corvette pennants). The C6.R driver's names will be placed on the roof of the car, and the championships they've won will be written on the lower door.

Elsewhere, you get a body-colored spoiler out back, Q9V forged chrome wheels (the 5-spoke style that came out on the 2008 Corvette), black headlamps insets on the yellow car, body-colored door handles, and a carbon-fiber-patterned engine cover. To raise the sound and the fury a notch, the coupe and convertible come with the Z51 Performance Package and NPP Performance Exhaust.

Inside, there will be a black interior with contrasting yellow stitching and some engraved plaques. You'll also get a Certificate of Authenticity. No word yet on how many will be produced, but the car is due to arrive in the spring and a pricing announcement will be made next month.