New Corvette Z06 Bathurst 12 Hour: Limited Edition with a GT3 Flavor

Chevrolet launches the Corvette Z06 Bathurst 12 Hour Special Edition, a limited series for Australia inspired by the new GT3.R.

Quick context: This is the first special edition Z06 designed specifically for the Australian market, arriving just as the Corvette GT3.R makes its debut at the Bathurst 12 Hour. The mechanics remain unchanged, but the look and feel are, with a clear nod to endurance racing.

Chevrolet has decided to capitalize on the Corvette's official return to the Bathurst 12 Hour with the GT3.R by launching a very special edition of the Z06. Called the Corvette Z06 Bathurst 12 Hour Special Edition, it is limited to 250 units and will only be sold in Australia, a market where the model has been well-received since its introduction as a right-hand drive vehicle.

More than a radical version, it's an aesthetic and equipment package designed to connect the everyday customer with the race car that will compete at Mount Panorama. There are no changes to the naturally aspirated V8 or the performance figures, but there is a closed-loop configuration, plenty of carbon fiber, and a livery that replicates the race car seen in the legendary endurance race.

What happened: an edition for Australia and Bathurst

The Corvette Z06 Bathurst 12 Hour Special Edition is a limited series of 250 units intended exclusively for the Australian market. According to available information, all units share the same basic configuration: a coupe body with a removable roof, a Z07 aerodynamic package, and a specific aesthetic kit that directly links it to the Corvette GT3.R that will race in the Bathurst 12 Hour.

This edition coincides with Corvette Racing's official program at the Bathurst 12 Hour, one of the most important endurance races in the Asia-Pacific region. The brand is leveraging the media attention surrounding the GT3.R and its presence at Mount Panorama to reinforce the Z06's image as a high-performance product with track DNA.

Chevrolet had already launched a special edition in the United States related to motorsports, the IMSA GTLM Championship Edition based on the C8 Stingray. Now it's repeating the formula, but with the Z06 and focusing on Australia, a market where the brand is building a sporty image through the official import of the right-hand drive Corvette.

Technical aspects: Pure Z06, no mechanical changes

Engine and mechanical base

The Bathurst 12 Hour Special Edition makes no changes to the powertrain compared to a standard Z06. It retains the naturally aspirated, mid-mounted, 5.5-liter LT6 flat-plane crank V8, paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Power and performance figures are unchanged from the standard Z06, according to available information.

This engine is the key component of the Z06 and also the conceptual basis of the GT3.R, although the race car uses a specification adapted to GT3 regulations. The Bathurst edition plays precisely with that connection: the same high-revving V8 concept in both the road car and the race car, although without direct homologation between the two.

Z07 package and chassis

All Bathurst 12 Hour units come standard with the Z07 package, the most track-oriented kit in the Z06 range. It includes a more aggressive aerodynamic package, higher-performance brakes, and track-focused tires. The source does not detail any additional suspension or chassis modifications beyond what the Z07 already offers.

The combination of the Z06 and Z07 puts this edition at the top of the performance spectrum within the Corvette lineup, although Chevrolet hasn't announced any new lap times or specific performance figures for the Bathurst version. It is, essentially, a Z06/Z07 with a closed configuration and a distinctly race-inspired aesthetic.

Design and nods to the Corvette GT3.R

Colors, graphics, and exterior details

The most striking feature of this edition is the livery inspired by the Corvette GT3.R that will compete in the Bathurst 12 Hour. The bodywork is offered in two main colors: Hypersonic Grey and Summit White. Specific graphics replicating the race car's scheme, including contrasting stripes and details, are applied over this base, according to the source.

In addition to the colors and decals, the Bathurst 12 Hour Special Edition features carbon fiber wheels, an element that reduces unsprung weight and reinforces the car's performance focus. It also incorporates visible carbon fiber elements on the exterior, associated with the Z07 package, such as the large rear wing and aerodynamic enhancements.

Interior and numbering

Inside, the Bathurst Edition adds a plaque indicating its limited-edition status and referencing the Bathurst 12 Hour. The source mentions specific finishes and customization details, but doesn't specify exact color or material combinations beyond stating that the interior aligns with the Z06's sporty character.

No structural changes to the seats, instrument panel, or multimedia system are mentioned compared to a standard Z06. The added value lies in the exclusivity of the configuration, the explicit reference to racing, and the fact that all units share the same specification designed for the Australian market.

Market, price and positioning

The Corvette Z06 Bathurst 12 Hour Special Edition will be sold exclusively in Australia, with a total of 250 units available nationwide. The source does not provide an official price, but makes it clear that it will be positioned above a standard Z06 due to the standard Z07 package, carbon fiber wheels, and its limited-edition status.

This strategy aligns with how other brands use endurance racing to launch high-margin, high-image special editions. In a market like Australia, closely linked to Bathurst and track day culture, a Z06 with GT3 styling and a closed configuration has a clear target audience.

The edition also serves as a marketing tool to reinforce Corvette's presence in the region, both in racing and on the road. The direct link to GT3.R and the Bathurst 12 Hour helps position the Z06 as more than just an American sports car: a global product with serious GT3 aspirations.

Sporting context: from GT3.R to the street

The launch of this edition coincides with the Corvette GT3.R's participation in the Bathurst 12 Hour, a race that is part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge and takes place at the Mount Panorama circuit. It is a very demanding track, with steep elevation changes and fast sections between walls, where the brand's image is heavily at stake in terms of reliability and performance.

The GT3.R is the successor to the C8.R GTE, adapted to GT3 regulations to compete in a wider range of championships and races. Although the Z06 Bathurst 12 Hour is neither a special homologation nor a road car directly derived from the GT3.R, it does serve as an emotional bridge between the customer and the racing program.

For Chevrolet, this limited edition is a way to capitalize on their racing efforts in a specific market. If the GT3.R performs well at Bathurst and the Z06 Bathurst 12 Hour sells out quickly, it's reasonable to think the brand could repeat the formula in other markets or with other races, although this isn't confirmed by the source.

What remains to be confirmed and final reading

There are several points that the available information doesn't clarify. The official price for Australia isn't published, nor are exact delivery times detailed, beyond the fact that it's a 2026 model. There's also no mention of possible additional customization options based on the edition, so it's understood that the configuration is fairly limited, but this isn't explicitly confirmed.

There's also no information on whether the two available colors differ in production, nor whether Chevrolet plans to release similar editions in other markets to coincide with the GT3.R's participation in other endurance races. For now, the Bathurst 12 Hour Special Edition appears to be a move specifically for Australia and its connection to Mount Panorama.

Key data

• Model: Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Bathurst 12 Hour Special Edition.
• Market: Exclusive to Australia.
• Units: 250 copies, according to the source.
• Mechanical base: Corvette Z06 with naturally aspirated 5.5 LT6 V8 engine and 8-speed dual-clutch transmission.
• Z07 package included as standard on all units.
• Available colors: Hypersonic Grey and Summit White.
• Bathurst 12 Hour Corvette GT3.R inspired livery.
• Carbon fiber wheels included.
• Interior with limited edition identification plate.
• Model associated with the Corvette GT3.R program at the Bathurst 12 Hour.

The important thing

• What's different: Bathurst-specific aesthetics, Z07 package and standard carbon wheels, closed and numbered configuration.
• Why it matters: It connects the street-legal Corvette with the Bathurst 12 Hour GT3.R and strengthens the brand's image in Australia.
• What remains to be confirmed: official price, detailed delivery times and possible future similar editions in other markets.

As a product move, the Corvette Z06 Bathurst 12 Hour Special Edition is a pretty logical move: it doesn't touch the mechanics, but it packs everything an Australian customer who's a fan of Bathurst and track days could want in a Z06, with a clear narrative centered around the GT3.R. It remains to be seen whether Chevrolet will dare to play the same card at other legendary circuits on the GT3 calendar. Would you like to see a similar edition linked to, for example, Spa or the Nürburgring?