For the first time since 1976, NASCAR is entering the 24 hours of Le Mans race in June, competing as an experimental Garage 56 entry in the event’s centenary year celebrations.  A joint venture from IMSA, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet and Goodyear, the vehicle includes a world-leading braking system from Coventry-based AP Racing.

The Garage 56 entry is a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 which closely resembles its NASCAR cup series next generation counterpart, but with significant modifications to meet the requirements of the race.

As the exclusive brake supplier to the NASCAR Cup Series, AP Racing were asked to design and manufacture a revised brake system to meet the exacting demands of a 24-hour race. Using a modified version of the standard Radi-CAL caliper as fitted to the cup cars, AP Racing used its industry-leading experience with Formula 1 and IMSA Carbon/Carbon brake systems to design a bespoke disc and pad combination specifically for this application. The Carbon Carbon system is a crucial part of the Garage 56 project providing an unparalleled combination of performance, endurance and weight reduction. 

David Hamblin, managing director of AP Racing, said, “The Garage 56 entry doesn’t look too different than a normal cup series car, but under the skin there are a lot of changes. We are proud to have been selected as the exclusive braking supplier for this prestigious Garage 56 entrant in this special centenary year and look forward to seeing our products in action on the track.”

AP Racing has a long history of supplying some of the world’s leading race teams and most prestigious road car OEMs for more than 100 years. The company’s unrivalled on and off-track experience makes it the ideal choice for high-performance braking solutions, and the latest Garage 56 entry is a testament to the company’s commitment to excellence in motorsport.

To learn more about AP Racing, visit: www.apracing.com  

Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News