Combining American V8 power with Italian racing engineering, the Dallara Corvette C7.R Daytona Prototype delivers a distinctive approach to high-performance motorsport. At the 2026 Gran Premio Storico D’Italia at Mugello Circuit, the Holthoff Car Performance entry provides an onboard look at a purpose-built racing machine driven by Alexander Müller and Matteo Ferrer-Aza.
Beneath its Corvette C7-inspired carbon-fibre bodywork lies a Dallara Daytona Prototype originally developed for Grand-Am competition before the championship merged into the unified IMSA SportsCar Championship. Its steel-tube chassis, mid-mounted engine and comprehensive aerodynamic package were designed for the demands of professional endurance racing.
The prototype is powered by a 5.5-litre Chevrolet LS9-based V8 built for competition by ECR Engines. Unlike the supercharged production LS9, this racing configuration uses natural aspiration, individual throttle bodies and dry-sump lubrication. In its current specification, the engine produces approximately 650 horsepower at 7,500 rpm, compared with roughly 560–565 horsepower in its original IMSA configuration. With a weight of approximately 1,040 kilograms (2,285 pounds), the car achieves an impressive power-to-weight ratio of around 625 horsepower per tonne. Its estimated top speed approaches 300 km/h (190 mph).
An Xtrac six-speed sequential gearbox with paddle shifting sends power to the rear wheels. Independent double-wishbone suspension, pushrod-operated coilovers and carbon brake discs with six-piston calipers complete the mechanical package.The chassis is associated with the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette Daytona Prototype, which competed between 2012 and 2016 and was connected to major American endurance events, including the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
After its American racing career, the car moved to Germany, where Dicki Holthoff and Holthoff Car Performance rebuilt it for historic competition. It now participates in Masters Endurance Legends events, running in a configuration adapted from its original IMSA setup. At Mugello, this American-Italian racing machine demonstrates how lightweight construction, naturally aspirated power and prototype aerodynamics combine to deliver an intense circuit experience.
Source: Racecars Universe, Musclecars Universe
