America’s Evergreen Sports Car
For over 70 years, the Chevrolet Corvette has been America’s true sports car. After all, it originally drew inspiration from Europe’s open-top sports cars and eventually evolved into what it is today. Sure, it had large V8s over the years, but it was never a muscle car, per se.
But in 2020, the Corvette shifted to a mid-engine layout, something legendary GM engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov had always wanted. But while Arkus-Duntov never saw his dream realized, the mid-engined Corvette silences anyone still doubting its sports car credibility. Countless wins in international sports car racing further solidify its lineage, and it is by far the most successful American nameplate in the world of endurance racing, having won Le Mans nine times.
The Mighty ZR1X
The ZR1X is possibly the most extreme production Corvette ever produced, at least so far. Its Twin-turbo 5.5-liter LT7 V8 is paired with an electric motor in the front axle, giving this hybrid all-wheel-drive sports car a combined output of 1,250 hp. It starts at $227,695, which is a lot, but given the performance, it’s still a relative bargain.
It’s not just a straight-line rocket, as it’s proven itself on the world’s most demanding track, the Nürburgring Nordschleife. With Drew Cattell behind the wheel, it lapped The Green Hell in 6:49.275, making it the fastest street-legal American car to do it. Its record, however, was later broken by the Mustang GTD, which completed the circuit/derestricted one-way toll road in 6:40.835.
That said, the Mustang’s record is still being debated to this day, as it was a specially prepped car that did the lap. Nonetheless, the ZR1X is absolutely no slouch, as breaking 7 minutes around the ‘Ring is no easy task. As for a rematch, we’re sorry to say that it’s not happening, folks.
Chevrolet
No More Mustang Chasing
In an interview with GM Authority, GM Senior Vice President of Product Safety, Integration and Motorsports Ken Morris explained why the company won’t be trying to beat the Mustang’s record, nor is it interested in doing so. “So I’ll start by saying the cars we set the numbers with are exactly the cars you buy, other than we put things like racing brake fluid in, and things like that. But it’s a production car, and we put a production car time out.”
Improvements are possible, but Morris explained that the company won’t go down a rabbit hole adding mode development just to settle a grudge. He also said GM has no interest in building a car specifically for lap times that won’t benefit the customer. “You know, we’re always looking for things to improve, but it’s not like we’re gonna get into some crazy competition with stuff that doesn’t exist that we don’t sell to people,” added the executive.
Point Proven
The Mustang GTD may have posted the faster lap time on the ‘Ring, but Chevrolet is adamant it used a showroom-stock example for the ZR1X’s run. That should still count for something, and GM can be proud of its car either way.
The ZR1X has shown its capabilities through and through, from setting blistering 0-150 mph-0 times to actually beating the GTD on other race tracks. Of course, it’s been said that it could’ve gone about 10 seconds faster in the Nordschleife, but it will have to be another driver, and not GM, to prove that point.
Chevrolet
