Chevrolet made history at the Nürburgring Nordschleife by bringing three different Corvette models—the Z06, ZR1, and ZR1X—and having three of its own engineers, not professional racecar drivers, set official lap times in a single visit. This marks the first time an automaker has attempted such a feat at the legendary 12.9-mile circuit.
The Chevrolet team now holds the fastest official laps by an American manufacturer at the Nürburgring.
All three Corvettes were U.S. production-spec vehicles, with only safety modifications required by the track, such as a roll hoop, race seat, fire extinguisher, and six-point harness. The ZR1 and ZR1X are not sold in Europe, so all three cars set times in the Prototype/Pre-Production category.
Model | Horsepower | Engine | Special Features |
---|---|---|---|
Z06 with Z07 Package | 670 hp | 5.5L flat-plane V8 | Carbon fiber wheels, Michelin Cup 2R tires, carbon ceramic brakes |
ZR1 with ZTK Package | 1,064 hp | 5.5L twin-turbo flat-plane V8 | Carbon fiber wheels, Michelin Cup 2R tires, 10-piston front brakes |
ZR1X with ZTK Package | 1,250 hp | 5.5L twin-turbo flat-plane V8 + front electric motor | Carbon fiber wheels, Michelin Cup 2R tires, 10-piston front brakes |
Link, Wallace, and Cattell are not just engineers—they are seasoned Nürburgring drivers, with a combined 1,825 laps and 31 trips to the track for GM vehicle development. Together, they have 36 years of experience working on GM Performance Cars. Wallace also leads GM’s high-performance driver training program.
GM President Mark Reuss said, “No auto manufacturer has done a Nürburgring lap attempt like this before. We have shown there is no limit to what our GM engineers and vehicles can accomplish. These are the best Corvettes in history, period.”
GM’s approach of having the same engineers who design and tune the cars also drive them on the track has created a unique relationship between the cars, the tracks, and the people behind them. Their lap times now rank among the fastest ever recorded by non-professionals at the Nürburgring, proving the performance and engineering excellence of the latest Corvettes.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) is celebrating 20 years of the Toyota Innova in India, marking…
Nissan Motor India has launched the new Magnite KURO Special Edition, a bold and premium…
For over 20 years, Hyundai has been a trusted name in India, known for reliable…
Audi, the German luxury carmaker, has announced a new industry-leading warranty and roadside assistance program…
Oben Electric has launched the Rorr EZ Sigma, a next-generation electric commuter bike, at a…
Tata Motors has launched the new Adventure X Persona for its flagship SUVs, the Harrier…