2023 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 to target off-road racing in Australia

The production vehicle class of off-road racing in Australia is set to get a lot more exciting, with Chevrolet showing interest in entering its new Silverado ZR2 pick-up truck.

Officially known as Class 7, the production vehicles are heavily restricted in what modifications can be done to them. Aside from the usual safety equipment such as the approved roll cage, safety seats, race harnesses and fire-suppression systems, there’s not a lot they are allowed to do to the vehicles. And Chevrolet believes its ZR2 could be the perfect truck to take on the category in Australia.

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The ZR2 Silverado was developed with Chad Hall Racing in the USA’s ‘Best in The Desert Series’ and at big events like the Baja 500- and 1000-mile races. They ran the Silverado as a production vehicle for years before the introduction of the ZR2 road vehicle, developing components like the Multimatic DSSV dampers and other hardware to suit the tough endurance conditions. The Hall Racing ZR2 Silverado has made this class its own with multiple wins and championships.

A small team of employees at GMSV’s Melbourne headquarters took it upon themselves, working after hours to build this Silverado to show what is possible and how it might look in Australia.

Officially only a concept vehicle at this stage, it has been built to full-approved specification to race Class 7 in Australia. Aside from the as-mentioned safety equipment, the only other gear fitted to it include a larger fuel cell mounted in the tray of the vehicle, and taller 35s that replace the standard 33-inch tyres.

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Suspension hardware remains standard, but the DSSV dampers have been re-calibrated for race use. GMSV was quick to point out that the single DSSV damper remains at each wheel, saying that one is enough with the multimatics, even though Class 7 regulations allow for two shock absorbers per tyre.

The 6.2-litre V8 engine and transmission are also standard, but a freer-flowing and awesome-sounding exhaust system has been fitted.

A factory-backed ZR2 Silverado entry from GMSV could take the Ford versus Chevrolet rivalry from the circuits of V8 Supercars to the dusty tracks of outback Australia as soon as 2024

Class 7 vehicles are usually some of the slowest vehicles on the rough off-road racing tracks, but clever preparation and driving to the conditions and vehicle capabilities make for compelling racing for those involved. The class had been dominated in recent decades by Queenslander Geoff Pickering and his all-conquering Pajero, which enjoyed limited support from Mitsubishi Australia over the years. Bruce Garland also ran a Class 7 Isuzu MU-X at some events including the Finke Desert Race with support from Isuzu Ute Australia.

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Ranger Raptor at the 2022 Baja 1000

With Ford Australia taking a production class Ranger Raptor to Mexico last year, where it competed in and completed the gruelling Baja 1000 race - and with the possibility of Ford running a Raptor back in Australia - a factory-backed ZR2 Silverado entry from GMSV could take the Ford versus Chevrolet rivalry from the circuits of V8 Supercars to the dusty tracks of outback Australia as soon as 2024.

The ZR2 concept vehicle will be shown at various events around Australia including this weekend’s National 4x4 and Outdoors Show in Brisbane (March 17-19) and hopefully we’ll see it tearing up the track at the Finke or in the Safari next year.