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Chevrolet Motorsports equips its racing vehicles with 3D-printed parts

Additive manufacturing

Among the additively manufactured parts on Corvette C8.R race cars are the oil tank, tank inlet and cap, power steering pump bracket, and headlight assemblies. Chevrolet Motorsports

General Motors reports that 3D printing has taken on a powerful role at Chevrolet Motorsports, both on- and off-road. This season the Corvette C8.R, INDYCAR, NASCAR Camaro, and Silverado race teams have accumulated more than 80,000 miles of competition in vehicles built with 3D-printed parts.

“Chevrolet has a long history of technology transfer between our motorsports and production teams, and this is a perfect example of our approach,” said Jim Campbell, GM’s U.S. vice president of Performance and Motorsports. “GM’s 3D printing capability speeds up our learning cycles and, in turn, these racetrack experiences help our additive manufacturing team move one step closer to using 3D-printed parts in production vehicles.”

Two all-new mid-engine Corvette race cars—both C8.Rs—debuted at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January of this year. Each was equipped with 75 3D-printed parts, including the oil tank, tank inlet and cap, driver air conditioning cooling box and integrated hydration system, power steering pump bracket, and headlight assemblies. Fifty of the parts were designed or printed in-house by GM.

Since then, the C8.Rs have accumulated nearly 8,000 miles of competition in seven races. (During the 2020 season, Corvette Racing has taken home five first-place wins and had three 1-2 finishes, including the Cadillac Grand Prix of Sebring.)

“By utilizing 3D-printed parts, Chevrolet Motorsports is demonstrating the many benefits of additive manufacturing, including manufacturing efficiencies, mass reduction, parts consolidation, creativity, and cost savings,” said Audley Brown, GM’s director of Materials Engineering, Additive Design and Manufacturing. “3D-printed parts can offer equal strength and durability to cast or milled components, which is critical for product development and design.”