Chevy's Corvette Triad Conquers the Nürburgring — ZR1X Leads the Way

As expected, Chevrolet is very pleased with its mid-engine Corvette C8, having introduced both minor and more noticeable improvements and upgrades since the vehicle first launched in 2020. These enhancements apply not only to the standard Stingray model but also to the 670-horsepower Z06, the hybrid E-Ray, the twin-turbocharged 1064-hp ZR1, and the latest version, the all-wheel-drive ZR1X which produces 1250 horsepower through its gasoline-electric hybrid system.

To acknowledge the outstanding efforts of the company's designers, engineers, and factory employees who contributed to building the newest versions of America's sportscar, Chevrolet sent three models—an Z06, ZR1, and ZR1X—to Germany's Nürburgring for testing on what is considered one of the most challenging tracks globally, comparing their performance with top-tier supercars around the world.

During the practice runs on the 12.9-mile Nordschleife course, the three vehicles were driven not by professional racers, but by Chevrolet engineers who have accumulated over 1800 total laps around the track known as the Green Hell.

Vehicle dynamics engineer Drew Cattell took control of the Corvette ZR1X a 6:49.275 lap, making it the top-performing American automobile on the circuit and ranking fifth overall among production vehicles. The present benchmark—6:29.09—is owned by the $2.7 million Mercedes-AMG One, with two Porsche 911 GT2 models and a Mercedes AMG Black Series positioned in between. ZR1 vehicle dynamics engineer Brian Wallace achieved a time of 6:50.763 in the ZR1, reducing the previous mark established just recently by approximately 1.3 seconds. Ford Mustang GTD , while the Z06, with vehicle performance manager Aaron Link at the wheel, completed the lap in 7 minutes, 11.826 seconds.

No automotive company has ever attempted a Nürburgring lap in this manner," stated GM President Mark Reuss after the Corvette took over the track. "From development all the way to manufacturing, and now at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, known as the Green Hell, we've distinctly demonstrated that there are no limits to what our GM engineers and cars can achieve. These are the finest Corvettes ever made.

In honor of the company's success, GM has launched a brand-new documentary, Native-Built Velocity: A Corvette Narrative , which details the preparation for the three attempts, from the company's Milford Proving Ground to the laps in Germany.

The final sanctioned test at the Nürburgring conducted by Chevrolet took place in June 2011, with engineer Jim Mero achieving a lap time of 7 minutes and 19.63 seconds in a C6 ZR1. Oh, how much progress has been made since then.