TriShield

Ripping the ‘Ring: Stock ZR1 Laps Nürburgring in 7:26.4



By: Tadge J. Juechter
Corvette Chief Engineer

I know many people have been very interested in how fast the ZR1 would be at the Ring…

Most car enthusiasts are quite familiar with the Nürburgring. Built in the 1920’s near Cologne, Germany, “the Ring” is considered to be the toughest and most challenging race track in the world.

Over the last two weeks, we have been doing our final tuning and testing there before we start ZR1 production cars. This morning (Friday June 27), General Motors development engineer Jim Mero drove the Corvette ZR1 around the Nürburgring in a time of 7:26.4.

Jim commented after the lap that conditions were good except for a strong headwind down the main straight and that the lap was solid, but he felt there were a few places he could have gone faster.

The car was bone stock with the exception of the communications and safety equipment. The tires were production Michelin Pilot Sport 2’s. These tires have been developed specifically for the ZR1 and will have impressive wet traction and wear (tread wear rating = 220), in addition to excellent dry road holding. Chassis alignment and vehicle height were set to factory specs. Likewise, the engine calibrations were absolutely stock, emissions compliant and the car ran on pump (not racing) fuel. The vehicle was exactly like the cars that will be built in Bowling Green, Kentucky and sold around the world later this summer.

Despite posting one of the fastest times ever run by a production car, Nürburgring lap times were not an over-riding priority in the development of the ZR1. The truth is, if the only priority was speed at the ring, the car would not be very pleasant to drive on American roads. The ZR1 is an incredibly capable track machine, but unlike most ultra-high performance cars, it is very easy to live with on a daily basis.

The timed lap was run with a rolling start, a departure from our previous practice of standing starts. This is more aligned with current industry practice. The lap was electronically timed and confirmed with two hand-held stopwatches. An in-car video will be posted when the engineering team returns from Germany. Look for it the week of July 7!

http://blog.gmnext.com/?p=194

dailydriver

Not too shabby.

But I'll bet that with Jan Magnussen (or Johnny O'Connell, John Heinricy, or Ron Fellows) driving, and after some practice, they can get that time down into the teens, maybe even the single digits!!!

WOW! STOCK high mileage run flat street tires, STOCK engine/suspension specs, and pump gas, that would be incredible!!

And at least they admitted right off the bat that they did a flying start, to end the speculation and confusion (unlike other unnamed manufacturers who keep you guessing about everything, leading to flame wars! ).

ChaseSS

iTrader: (17)

we all knew it was capable of this, but I think it can still do better like you said dailydriver

jimmy169

Awwwww snaaaaaaaap....here it goes...



One badass vette...

BAD ASS TA WS6

iTrader: (5)

Michelin PS2s aren't run flats.

StoleIt

iTrader: (3)

I assume this is faster than the GT-R? And where is that GT-R fan boy at? He get banned yet?

SparkyJJO

iTrader: (11)

haha I was thinking the same thing

dailydriver

I believe he is perma-banned (at least until he figures out how to circumvent that ban and weasel/hack his way back on here).

dailydriver

Actually, I believe they are putting the PS2 ZPs on the ZR1.

This is what I've heard, but I could be wrong.

Anyone know for sure??

LS1LT1

iTrader: (16)

Those results do not surprise me at all...this car is no joke.

Congrats again GM/Chevrolet/Team Corvette for delivering one hell of a beast.

slammer454

that car is a pure beast. As said previously, get somebody like Ron behind the wheel and watch the times drop!

Whisper

iTrader: (12)

Wonder what theyll knock the final year model's HP up to?

LS1LT1

iTrader: (16)

The ones on the ZR1 are.

Blakbird24

iTrader: (24)

Yeah the PS2s that are on the ZR1 are runflats. I dunno if it's simply a different version of the tire, or if the new PS2s are all runflats...but the ones on the ZR1 definitely are.

Now the question is, how long will it take for this thread to explode into a 5-page argument about the GT-R again?

My bet is 4 hours max.

Evilways

iTrader: (1)

yepper....michelin developed them just for the ZR1....they supposedly have the same great traction as the non runflat, the only downside is the added weight, but the HP makes up for that, lol.

ChaseSS

iTrader: (17)

I may have spoken too soon but I think in light of the recent discoveries made (how fast the Zr1 is and how fake the GT R's stats were) pissy chrissy may be MIA for a while

Hydramatic

Indeed. It's hard to fight a Battleship when all you've got is a canoe!

I'm VERY impressed by the times, but we all know it could go faster with a ring-meister behind the wheel. I find it strange that Nissan couldn't seem to release a definitive, honest answer about the times it ran, yet GM came straight out and told people exactly what a real car would run. Way to go, GM!

2000Hawk

iTrader: (5)

ok i didn't want to tbring the GTR into this, but can we all now agree that the one that ran the ring was a ringer? Honestly it is down more than 100Hp to the ZR1, weighs like a ******* abrams tanks, yet was able to pull off a 7:29. If the ZR1 could accomplish a 7:26, and im sure it will go faster with Jan or Johnny. Then i am for one to call the "stock" GTRs times BS! This might be the last time i speak to you guys, because these comments might get me assasinated.
-Joel

LS1LT1

iTrader: (16)

True.
No one gets to speak out against the #1 Gran Turismo/X-BOX import tuner fanboy ride and lives to tell about it, NO ONE!
We'll miss ya bro.

2000Hawk

iTrader: (5)

^ LMAO, also Chief Engineer Juechter stated in his release "The timed lap was run with a rolling start, a departure from our previous practice of standing starts." So why don't they take the Z06 back out there with the ZR1 and really bring down the times.
-Joel