Splitting in half doesn’t look good, but we’re celebrating the Colorado ZR2 anyway! Because despite the structural failure that was experienced, I was able to finish the Mint 400 in the first place.
2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2 wins the Mint 400
The 2023 ZR2 was one of many cars in the prestigious off-road race. The race takes place near the Las Vegas Strip over 400 miles over two days in grueling conditions.
The ZR2 may have suffered a structural failure due to the roll cage’s blacksmith point location. It is installed in front of the rear jumpers. This may have put too much stress on the tire.
Plus, the Colorado ZR2 was carrying tons of extra weight. Spare tires, tools, a heavy winch, fuel cell and other equipment added hundreds of pounds to the racing rig.
It leaned between the cab and the rear bed at about a 45-degree angle with 40 miles left to race. The bend was at the weakest part of the truck. This type of damage can be related to landing a hard jump or overloading the tire.
On the plus side, this truck may be a pre-production model, so the mounting point for the roll cage could be reconsidered. This should prevent other Colorado ZR2 models from having this problem on the pavement and during off-road driving.
Also, the race in Colorado has been put through the paces. It was equipped earlier in 2022 and has traversed over 1,000 miles of rugged terrain. Splitting in half was the first big problem. Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 finished the race without any problems.
How is the 2023 Colorado ZR2 prepared for racing?
The vehicle used in the races can be a stock truck with some racing upgrades. For example, they seem to be equipped with larger and thicker tires, and we can detect rock bars. It likely used the new 2.7-liter turbocharged engine making 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque.
The upgrade to the ZR2 adds multi-purpose spool-valve velocity-sensitive dampers, a front/rear locking differential, ZR2-specific knuckles, cast iron lower control arms, and dual leaf spring rear suspension.
Advanced technology allows you to see pitch/roll, GPS location, elevation, g-force, wheel slip, and transfer case status. In addition, there are up to 10 different camera views for off-road driving.
It’s understandable to be concerned about the Chevy Colorado ZR2 breaking in half, but it still won an incredibly tough race. Simply completing it is an achievement! Also, this issue may have been addressed before production went live.
