The 2026Chevrolet Corvette Bathurst 12 Hour Specialty Edition has been launched as a limited-run road-going counterpart to the ferocious Z06 GT3.R racer which will make its local competition debut at Mount Panorama this weekend.
General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) confirmed the unique Chevrolet model will be the only shipment of model year 2026 (MY26) Corvette Z06 to Australia and New Zealand and will be a strictly low-volume model.
It’s launching as part of a refreshed MY26 lineup, which will continue to include the Stingray and E-Ray.
The special edition celebrates the first official Corvette entries into the esteemed Bathurst 12 Hour race, which sees a host of brands and international drivers competing, and which was won last year by BMW – with McLaren, Ferrari, Audi, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz and Nissan among previous winners.
Only a dozen of the Bathurst Corvettes will be offered in Australia and New Zealand – an appropriate number given its entry into the Bathurst 12 Hour sports car endurance race – each individually numbered and capable of more than 300km/h.
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Pricing is yet to be confirmed, but it’s expected to be more than the Z06 coupe’s $336,000 before on-road costs when deliveries begin, currently scheduled for later this year.
On the outside, the special edition is offered exclusively in Switchblade Silver with a Jake C8.R graphics package, a lightweight carbon-fibre roof, and carbon flash badges, trim and mirror caps.
It also comes with a rare, officially sanctioned map of the iconic 6.213km Mount Panorama circuit, and Bathurst 12 Hour build plates.
The limited-edition Corvette is in rare company, with the Bathurst name appearing on performance versions of the Holden Commodore in the 1980s, and road-going sports cars including the Toyota MR2 and Mazda RX-7.
The Bathurst 12 Hour Specialty Edition Corvette takes the Z06 3LZ coupe – meaning a mid-mounted 475kW/595Nm 5.5-litre ‘LT6’ flat-plane crank V8 revving to 8600rpm capable of a sub-3.0-second 0-100km/h time – and adds the Z07 Performance Package.
This brings a carbon-fibre aero kit with genuine aerodynamic gains in downforce, including a large rear spoiler as well as dive planes, and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R Ultra Performance tyres.
They come with a staggered fitment, running 20-inch 275/30 front tyres and 345/25 tyres on 21-inch ‘spider design’ black forged aluminium wheels with six-piston front and four-piston rear Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes with blue-painted calipers.
The cabin runs exclusive Jet Black and Santorini Blue Nappa leather with Competition seats and blue seatbelts, with ‘stealth’ and carbon-fibre trim, while the V8 engine gets an ‘appearance package’ and lighting.
As with the rest of the MY26 lineup, the special edition features a revised interior with three screens – a 12.7-inch infotainment touchscreen, 14-inch digital instrument cluster, and 6.6-inch auxiliary screen – plus other changes like revised and repositioned switchgear and a new drive mode selector.
Buyers of the special edition also receive a Bathurst 12 Hour Edition custom artwork print, an indoor car cover with a Corvette GT3.R graphic, and a Corvette Racing cap, polo shirt and jacket.
“As owner of the Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit we’re excited to be involved in this project,” said the Mayor of Bathurst Council, Cr Robert Taylor.
“The opportunity to have the Mount Panorama brand team up with General Motors for a special edition Corvette Z06 to celebrate their Bathurst 12 Hour debut was one not to be missed.
“It cements the importance of the circuit on the international stage and helps us to continue to grow our brand and reputation in the motorsport market alongside an internationally recognised company.”
Two Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs will tackle Mount Panorama this weekend among 35 cars, 115 drivers across 22 nationalities chasing victory in the 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race.
Qualifying takes place on Saturday, February 14, with the race itself beginning under lights at 5:45 am on Sunday, February 15, 2026.
