Having debuted just a few days ago, Chevrolet has already announced grand plans with the new Corvette ZR1, particularly to break the seven-minute mark around the Nurburgring. According to Road and Track, although the ZR1 was developed at the Green Hell, the final prototypes haven’t had the chance at a record-breaking attempt.
One part is due to track rules stipulating that all-out runs need only be done on suitably dry days. Chevrolet had only one slot last year, and that went to the Camaro ZL1 1LE whose development was more complete than the Corvette. According to Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter, record run is not a priority for the company, but it will happen sometime next year, once the car goes on sale in spring.
Just to recap, the Corvette ZR1 is powered by a supercharged LT5 6.2 litre direct-injected V8, producing a beastly 755 hp and 969 Newton metres of twisting force. Together with huge aero parts and super-sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, Chevrolet seems right on track to obliterate its predecessor the C6 ZR1’s record run of seven minutes and 19.63 seconds.
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Chevy said they ran it at Laguna Seca Raceway and it was more than 2.5 seconds quicker per lap than the Z06. American car magazine “Car and Driver” tests performance cars there every year in a feature they call “The Lightning Lap”. The old Z06 ran a 2:44.6, the fastest car they have tested is the Porsche 918 which ran a 2:43.1. If the new Zr1 is 2.5 seconds faster, it would make it the fastest car tested at the track, somewhere in the 2:42 range.
Reference. https://www.caranddriver.com/features/lightning-lap-20062017-historical-data-every-lap-time-every-car-feature