ZR-1 lap Nurburgring in 7:26.4!!!

[R33_GTS-t]

GMnext | GM Blog: Alternative Fuels, Technology, & Innovation » Blog Archive » Ripping the ‘Ring: Stock ZR1 Laps Nürburgring in 7:26.4

This is one hell of a car.

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!

[Sidious]

Very fast, but I do not believe one bit that a car like that is 'very easy to live with on a daily basis'

[trondhla]

That is an incredible fast laptime an shows that the ZR1 indeed is an animal ot count with. I guess that it took advantage of the 7 litre supercharged engine down the staights. In addition it makes life even harder for the likes of Porsche.
But since the ZR1 is a top of the line, compare it to this:
Nissan GT-R V-Spec lap times stun observers - Autoblog

7'26,4 will not stand for long

[monaroCountry]

-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.

-An in-car video will be posted when the engineering team returns from Germany. Look for it the week of July 7!

-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.

-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.

[monaroCountry]

Originally Posted by Sidious

Very fast, but I do not believe one bit that a car like that is 'very easy to live with on a daily basis'

Have a look at how smooth it is at speed. Videos of cars vying for top speed it usually more violent than this relaxing ride. You have to remember that the ZR1 is now using a far more advanced version of the magneride suspension than that used in the Ferrari 599.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOlWE8pJx7w]YouTube - New Corvette ZR1 Tops Out at 205 MPH

Also the Corvette ZR1 is using a 6.2L supercharged engine with an industry leading fuel economy (over 600hp class) and very very high torque and hp output.

[SkylineUSA]

It is funny how some people get stuck on the fact that the Vetts/Mustangs have a V8s, but they will still get better milage than the smaller displacement EVOs, GTRs, and WRXs. I wonder why that is?

ZR1 is a bad car!

[Sidious]

Originally Posted by monaroCountry

Have a look at how smooth it is at speed. Videos of cars vying for top speed it usually more violent than this relaxing ride. You have to remember that the ZR1 is now using a far more advanced version of the magneride suspension than that used in the Ferrari 599.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOlWE8pJx7w]YouTube - New Corvette ZR1 Tops Out at 205 MPH

Also the Corvette ZR1 is using a 6.2L supercharged engine with an industry leading fuel economy (over 600hp class) and very very high torque and hp output.

All lies and propaganda, but there are enough gullible people in the United states who will buy this Corvette and wave their willies about it on the street and to a greater extent on an internet forum I am sure.

[Sidious]

Originally Posted by SkylineUSA

It is funny how some people get stuck on the fact that the Vetts/Mustangs have a V8s, but they will still get better milage than the smaller displacement EVOs, GTRs, and WRXs. I wonder why that is?

ZR1 is a bad car!

It is mainly in the gearing.

WRX's are very short geared for a start, too short for many.

The GTRs R32-R34 are moderately geared

Then you have the Camaro, C5/C6 Corvette, Monaro with their very tall and useless 6th gear, 60 MPH at approximately 1000 RPM, its so tall that a 151 lb/ft of torque Honda S2000 in 6th gear would out drag it.

[SkylineUSA]

Originally Posted by Sidious

It is mainly in the gearing.

WRX's are very short geared for a start, too short for many.

The GTRs R32-R34 are moderately geared

Then you have the Camaro, C5/C6 Corvette, Monaro with their very tall and useless 6th gear, 60 MPH at approximately 1000 RPM, its so tall that a 151 lb/ft of torque Honda S2000 in 6th gear would out drag it.

It was a rhetorical question

There are other factors, but I wont go into those.

[R33_GTS-t]

Isn't the Z06 engine a displacement on demand engine or have I got my wires crossed?

[skyline69_uk]

That's a damn good time for RWD even with all that bhp. I like the look of it too (in that bash American way) and it's good performance for ~$110,000. The GT-R V-Spec will be faster although as even in pre-runs it appears to be putting in 7'25". I think Porsche are going to have a tougher time in the next few years in the USA with so much machinery going out a lot cheaper and quicker than even their "base" model prices. Honda and Toyota have to make a show as yet also!

[andreasgtr]

Until I see the tests from a seroius magazine like sport auto, I don't believe any of these "fabulous" times.

Neither the GTR's 7:29 nor this 7:26.
The latest Corvettes had the following times:
C6: 8:15 (in August 2005)
Z06: 7:49 (in June 2007)

for comparison, the new Ferrari 430 Scuderia with 510hp and 1402kg's did a 7:39,
Zonda F 7:33,
Porsche Carrera GT 7:32
Koenigsegg CCR 7:34

BTW the Nissan GTR has been scheduled for Autumn 2008 for the supertest on the nurburgring, so we will soon know.
Don't get me wrong, I love the Corvette and I'd love to see these times to be true but at the moment I think it's all about marketing and building up reputation. Putting on some serious sports tyres here , a little bit of ecu tuning there...predicting the car is factory standard...

[plumwerks]

So they finally got serious and put something good together,what's the big deal,you didn't think they couldn't do it did you,you just cant build crap cars forever.

[monaroCountry]

Originally Posted by skyline69_uk

That's a damn good time for RWD even with all that bhp. I like the look of it too (in that bash American way) and it's good performance for ~$110,000. The GT-R V-Spec will be faster although as even in pre-runs it appears to be putting in 7'25". I think Porsche are going to have a tougher time in the next few years in the USA with so much machinery going out a lot cheaper and quicker than even their "base" model prices. Honda and Toyota have to make a show as yet also!

Just wait until GM decides to use one of their current C6R racecar driver to pilot the car, a sub 7:20 would be achievable. Even the engineer piloting the ZR1 believed that he could have gone faster.

Better still GM has indicated that this car can still be improved. Nissan's V spec, Viper's ACR and Porsches GT2 isnt as civil as the ZR1. I could easily imagine GM releasing a track version of the ZR1 with stiffer springs, more downforce, MPSC tyres, and stripped out interior. When that occurs say bye bye to the V-spec.

[Sidious]

Originally Posted by monaroCountry

Just wait until GM decides to use one of their current C6R racecar driver to pilot the car, a sub 7:20 would be achievable. Even the engineer piloting the ZR1 believed that he could have gone faster.

Better still GM has indicated that this car can still be improved. Nissan's V spec, Viper's ACR and Porsches GT2 isnt as civil as the ZR1. I could easily imagine GM releasing a track version of the ZR1 with stiffer springs, more downforce, MPSC tyres, and stripped out interior. When that occurs say bye bye to the V-spec.

If your speculation is true, then you have forfilled your personal crusade in this GTR forum, isn't that right?