This vicious-looking thing you see here is the Daytona Prototype race car version of Chevrolet Corvette.

The new racing car will make competitive debut in the 50th anniversary of the GRAND-AM Road Racing Series Rolex 24 at Daytona from January 26-29, 2012. But before that it will participate in a GRAND-AM test at Daytona International Speedway on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011.

In 2012 when the car is fully engaged in the series, four teams will be using it, including No. 90 Spirit of Daytona Racing; No. 10 SunTrust Racing; No. 99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing, and the Nos. 5 and 9 Action Express Racing teams.

We quite like the design of the car, which although looks weird, clearly shows its roots as a Corvette. There is not technical details available yet.

“The 2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype was developed by a multi-faceted effort involving Chevrolet, Corvette Designers, Pratt & Miller and GRAND-AM. Chevrolet also worked closely with chassis builders Riley, Coyote and Dallara,” said Mark Kent, GM Racing director. “The IMSA GTP Corvette Prototype campaigned by Hendrick Motorsports in the ’80s was the inspiration for this new Chevrolet Corvette Daytona Prototype. And, like the GTP Corvettes, the new Corvette Daytona Prototype contains numerous styling cues from the street version of the Chevrolet Corvette.”