Corvette Club to race C8 E-Ray hybrids withdraws ban

The National Council of Corvette Clubs (NCCC) came under fire last month when it was discovered to have been hybridized. Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray Participation in or participation in sponsored events or shows is prohibited. Following considerable backlash from the Corvette community itself, the NCCC has issued a new statement acknowledging another adjusted ruleset that will allow E-Ray to compete.

The outcry from fans came after item 14 of Section 1.8.1 of the NCCC rulebook went viral last month. The rule makes it clear that hybrids and pure EVs are not welcome to share grass or tracks with other traditional Corvettes. These types of vehicles were to be parked at least 30 feet away from other vehicles. This was an NCCC effort to reduce the risk of fire. The rules read like this:

Electric/hybrid vehicles using lithium type battery packs are prohibited in competitive events. If you drive to an NCCC event, you must park at least 30 feet away from structures and other vehicles.

E-Ray features a single electric motor mounted above the front axle, giving Corvettes AWD capabilities for the first time.A tiny battery located in the center spine of the chassis provides fuel and her 6.2 liter LT2 V-8 Stingray sit back. By the way, the all-electric Hummer EV has a 212.0 kWh battery pack. Together the powertrain is good for 655 hp. Thanks to the added grip, the E-Ray reaches 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds. Keeping your feet on the ground, the motorized sports car zips through his quarter mile in 10.5 seconds. These numbers make the E-Ray the fastest Corvette ever, Mighty Z06which adds 15 horsepower.

After the media storm, NCCC President Deb Murphy said we all misunderstood the original rules. More specifically, Murphy said hybrid cars weren’t meant to get caught up in the ban, they were pure electric cars.

“I would like to clarify the discussion at the November meeting by comparing it to what appeared throughout the media. The discussion was about an electric vehicle (plug-in) that caught fire.” in a statement“Hybrids were not included in that discussion. Hybrids are allowed at our competitions and E-Ray is welcome at our events.”

The NCCC-listed rulebook has yet to back up Murphy’s claims about the original ruling, but this is a win for E-Ray buyers. With or without battery, the E-Ray, like all C8s, is designed for truck work. Murphy said the rulebook will eventually be adjusted to reflect the group’s position on the issue. It doesn’t seem very likely that a Corvette will appear.

Born and raised in Metro Detroit, Deputy Editor-in-Chief Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry. He may be driving his aging Mustang every day, but both his Porsche 944 and his NB Miata occupy most of his free time.