Record Setting C6 Z06 From Qatar Is A Carbon Creature In The Desert

There is no shortage of fast cars in the Middle East. The internet is full of videos of cars tearing up the deserts overseas. The areas along the southern side of the Persian Gulf are a hotbed of action for all forms of motorsports. This is especially true for the world-class facilities at Qatar Racing Club (QRC). The track at QRC is a no-expense-spared jewel in the desert. It attracts drivers and teams from all over the world during what would typically be the off-season for many racers. However, the locals in have plenty of their own fast cars. This record setting C6 Z06 you see before you is one such example.

Owner and driver Yousef AL-Malki of Qatar had been looking to buy a Z06 since 2007. He finally found this manual C6 Z06 model in 2014. Yousef has loved cars since he was a child. So it took him no time at all to begin to modify his Z06. Up first were simple things like headers and a cold air intake. Over the next two years, Yousef installed various additions and modifications on the car. However, he eventually decided to tear it completely down and rebuild it. His goal was to race in the Super Stock class. The Corvette transformation took a year to complete, and we must say it was definitely worth the time.

Originally factory red, the entire Corvette now sports carbon fiber as its only hue. In the interest of shedding weight, Yousef replaced every piece of the car’s body with carbon components. The front clip, doors, hood, roof, quarters, and deck lid are all carbon. He even substituted the factory dash with a carbon piece. He also added an eight-point cage while redoing the interior.

Complementing the all-carbon-fiber look of Yousef’s Z06, it rolls on a set of beautiful Belak Industries forged aluminum wheels in their black and machined finish. Fronts are 17×4.5 wrapped in Mickey Thompson ET Front tires. Meanwhile matching 15×10 single bead-lock wheels wearing Hoosier slicks are on the rear. Helping get the ride height just right and hitting 1.3-second 60-foot times are TRZ tubular control arms sporting AFCO shocks and springs in the front. AFCO shocks and the factory control arms are used on the rear. An OEM ZR1 differential spinning the OEM axles and 3.43 gears, along with front and rear brakes from TBM, complete the rolling chassis.

Once the Corvette was as light as Yousef could get it, he turned his attention to the powertrain. He called upon the talented Late Model Engines (LME) crew to build an absolute bullet for his…