Chevrolet Corvette GTP

Information

Chassis HU8811-01 is the last Chevrolet Corvette GTP built, delivered to Peerless Racing for a partial IMSA campaign in 1988. It is one of only two Corvette GTPs powered by a 5.8-liter aluminum block V8 producing 650 horsepower, paired with a Hewland VGC five-speed transaxle gearbox.

The car debuted at the 1988 Columbus 500 km race with drivers Jack Baldwin and David Hobbs, finishing fourth. It also raced at Del Mar but did not finish. In 1989, Peerless Racing ran a six-race IMSA program with drivers Baldwin, Tom Pumpelly, Scott Goodyear, Elliot Forbes-Robinson, and Jacques Villeneuve (brother of Gilles Villeneuve). The car failed to qualify at Miami and Road Atlanta due to practice accidents and suffered engine failures and a puncture in other races, resulting in no finishes.

In 1990, the chassis was acquired by Paul Canary and renamed Eagle 700. The original 5.8L engine was replaced with a 10.2-liter Chevy-based Eagle V8 producing 956 horsepower. The car attempted to qualify for the 1990 24 Hours of Le Mans but failed due to an electrical issue in night qualifying. The chassis did not race again after this.

The car was acquired into the current collection in spring 2021. It was restored to the original 1988 IMSA Budweiser white and red livery. The bodywork bears signatures from Jacques Villeneuve, Jack Baldwin, and David Hobbs.