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We are going to delve into the world of the Best C5 Corvette Parts for Track Days from a beginner to more experienced driver. These are parts to improve the experience and add benefits to the driver but will not replace the need for seat time. As you delve into track days and High Performance Driver Education (HPDE) events, focus on seat time and instruction to improve while making small incremental changes to your vehicle to understand the impact. These are parts and areas we have found successful but you may find other things that work better for you. If you find something that works better, please let us know.

1. The first C5 Corvette Part you will want to address is Brakes.  There is nothing worse than showing up to the track on stock pads and fluid and having your brakes fade halfway through your first session due to heat.  A great set of track pads and a swap to a 600 performance brake fluid will make all the difference in your first event. Make sure to swap pads in for events and back out afterwards to maximize pad life.

2. The second suggestion to ensure that you have a safe and fun experience is to swap out some of the fluids.  A fresh oil change (add one extra quart of oil to the C5) and filter prior to the event will help prevent issues.  We use Red Line 5W-30 Synthetic for great results.  Power steering fluid can be swapped to a synthetic version in order to prevent boiling power steering fluid. 

3. A great 200TW Tire will make all the difference in your track day experience.  The 200TW tires have been under constant development and are starting to see times consistent with some of the slicks. If using the stock wheels, we suggest using a 285/35R18 Square setup.  This would mean finding two additional stock rear wheels for use in the front.  The Speedlines are our preferred option but any that are available will work. You can also run a 275/35 or 275/40 tire as well.  This will be personal preference for your driving.

4. Upgraded Wheels and Tires are also an option.  Our preferred setup for track use is the Forgestar F14 wheels.  Forgestar provides a C5 Corvette Specific version of the F14 wheels in 18x11 size with Deep Concave and a +55 offset for a seamless installation.  This also allows for the use of a 315/30R18 tire for increased grip.

5. The next best upgrade for your C5 Corvette after brakes and tires, is the ability to stay planted while driving.  As you get faster on track, you will find yourself sliding around in the stock seats and seat belts.  An aftermarket seat is critical for holding you in place.  We have found the Sparco QRT-R as it fits nicely in the C5.  Seat preference will vary as you find one that fits your body shape and size the best.  For the C5, we love the AMT Motorsports seat mounts, they are a little expensive but well made.  If those aren't an option, the Sparco mounts will do the job. 

6. A good item to match with your new seat is a 6 point racing harness for increased safety.  We prefer the Schroth Racing Profi 2x2 6 point harness and it provides security, a great reputation and is easy to adjust. 

7. As you get more track time and get faster, you will want to start addressing other areas of the car.  Our build recommendation is to address the suspension first before adding additional power.  A set of sway bars and coilovers will set your Corvette up for better cornering and the ability to maintain greater speeds as you move around the track.

8. Our favorite products to help get faster and learn on the track are track timers and track coaches.  We use the Aim Solo 2 Lap Timer.  It comes preloaded with most major tracks and provides break downs on lap segments and best lap times.  Our favorite coaching tool is the Garmin Catalyst.  The Garmin Catalyst maintains lap segments, lap times and provides coaching based on current data.  It will also stitch together your best segments of each lap in video format to show you what an ideal run will look like.  It also includes a camera to take video of your laps and allows for easy posting and comparison to other Garmin Catalyst user times at the track

9. Once the suspension is addressed and you have enough seat time, it is time to start adding more power to the vehicle.  One of our favorite and easiest power additions is an air intake.  There are several popular brands on the market for the C5 Corvette.  Some of these systems provide increases up to 24 extra Horsepower and 29 ft lbs of Torque

10. Our last recommendation is to upgrade the exhaust.  The stock C5 Corvette exhaust is durable and has a nice sound to it.  Swapping this out for one of the aftermarket exhausts can provide a throatier sound and increased performance.  Know your current track regulations prior to swapping exhausts.  Some like NCM have decibel limits for vehicles.

Final Thoughts: These are just our recommendations.  If you have questions, please reach out to us via our contact page at https://corvetterealm.com/pages/contact-us