In 2008, a 2009 Corvette ZR1 lapped the Nürburgring in seven minutes and twenty-six point four seconds. That made the car faster than a 2009 Nissan GT-R and faster than the Porsche Carrera GT, but not as fast as a Ferrari Enzo. Fast forward to 2011, when Chevrolet again sent a ZR1 to Germany for testing. The 2012 ZR1 lapped the ‘Ring in seven minutes and nineteen point six seconds, shaving almost seven seconds off the car’s previous best time. Part of that improvement comes from aero and chassis upgrades for the 2012 model year, but quite a bit of the gain comes from the new Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires. Watch the record lap below, and take a look at the lateral G-load of the ZR-1 in corners. The car regularly pulled 1.5 g’s in the corners, and I saw loads as high as 2.0 g in the Carousel. That’s pretty damn impressive from a production car.
Source: Chevrolet YouTube Channel
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
