A detailed analysis says that Chevrolet left some time on the track
- Nurburgring expert says ZR1 could run ten seconds faster with a pro driver.
- GM used in-house engineers, not seasoned drivers, for Corvette’s timed laps.
- ZR1 and ZR1X beat Mustang GTD but trailed Porsche’s 911 GT2 RS lap time.
Few places in the world demand as much respect from drivers and machines as the Nurburgring. It’s a proving ground where precision, speed, and stamina collide. And few people know it more intimately than Misha Charoudin. He’s lapped the circuit countless times, lives there, runs businesses there, and driven countless cars there.
That makes him an expert full of insight about how to go fast there, and he thinks Chevrolet left around 10 seconds on the track. Here’s how.
Read: America’s Everyday Corvette ZR1X Hypercar Versus The World
There’s no other way to put it, Chevrolet planted its performance flag at the Green Hell last week when it unveiled three new lap times. The Corvette Z06 managed a 7:11.826, which is quick but not the big news.
That comes from the ZR1, which ran a 6:50.763, and the ZR1X, which ran a 6:49.275. In short, the ZR1 and ZR1X both beat the much more expensive Ford Mustang GTD. Interestingly, it wasn’t faster than a Manthley Racing Porsche 911 GT2 RS that lapped the track in 6:43.3, but Charoudin thinks that could change.
Where Time Was Left on the Track
In a lengthy breakdown video, he goes over the entire Corvette ZR1 lap time. In several cases, he points out how the driver leaves a great deal of track available coming out of turns. Essentially, rather than use the entire track, the driver is being conservative behind the wheel. That leads to slower turn exits, less speed built up over straight sections, and ultimately a slower time overall.
At this point, it must be noted that GM didn’t employ professional drivers for these records. The folks behind the wheel were engineers. No doubt, they have tons of seat time and experience, but that’s different from a pro-level driver who laps the ring with regularity.
That said, Charoudin believes the Corvette ZR1 could cut another 10 seconds off of its lap time with a pro driver behind the wheel. That would put it firmly in second place overall behind only the F1-derived AMG-One.
Charoudin also makes an important point about all of these times: cars like the ZR1X and ZR1 might not be the ultimate when it comes to repeatable results. He calls out Porsche and some of its high-end RM-tuned examples in the same way. Both are so extreme in their engineering that they might not be able to repeat their lap times back to back.
They could need time to cool tires off, cool brakes off, and heat soak on the engine can take its toll as well. Ultimately, it’s important to remember that these lap times are just that, a single benchmark of what’s capable on the bleeding edge of speed.