Tuesday 30th September 2014

Chevrolet dominates Nurburgring test session

But maybe not for all the right reasons!

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The Americans tend to arrive at the 'ring with a bit of a bang. And yesterday was no exception.

No lap time for this Z06 then...

For starters, Chevrolet doesn't use the Nordschleife for the same kind of monotonous but rigorous durability testing as other manufacturers. You don't see their family cars making 40 laps a day for two years before launch. Instead they arrive with nearly-finished sports cars, get busy with final handling and dynamic tests, then leave with a lap time and a video. At least, that's the plan.

The first Chevy to hit the track yesterday was this bright yellow, 2015-model C7 Corvette Z06. Sporting a supercharged 650hp motor and the full performance pack, it's not a leap of imagination to presume it arrived looking for a lap time. That's what Corvettes do, right?

Nearly ten years ago, Jan Magnussen (father of Kevin) pushed the first C6-generation Z06 around the 'Ring in 7mins 42. Since then we've seen 20 seconds shed from that lap time, through various detail and tyre changes. The last Corvette to set a 'record' was the supercharged ZR1 in 2012 with a 7:19.

Z/28's noise is rude; see the vid!

Sadly, there'll be no records for this new yellow beast as shown by a PHer's Tweet. Don't worry too much though, as we also witnessed a blue version at the famous ED Tankstelle petrol station.

The other car you can see here is a red Camaro Z/28. No doubt back with unfinished business after it's last amazing record lap with Adam Dean ended with a rain storm. The dry-sumped track day special is one of the best sounding cars lapping the 'ring right now.

And rumours are that its sixth-generation offspring is about to break cover for the first time ever in public. Let's just hope it doesn't arrive with the same kind of 'bang' as that Z06...

Videos:

Corvette Z06

 

Camaro Z/28

[Thanks to Herr_International on Twitter for sharing the Corvette pic]

[threespires]

"famous ED tankstelle"

Never heard of it, so not that famous.
Exactly what is "ED tankstelle"?

[patmahe]

This video makes me want to move to somewhere like the Rockies, (I'm aware thats Canada) get my hands on a Camaro, fill it with some reasonably priced fuel and drive the hell out of it, all the time rejoicing in the sound of its V8 echoing off the rock face

Somewhere like this would do

[Mannginger]

Huh, I was pretty underwhelmed by the Camaro sound, the Vette was better and even that was a bit dull. I prefer a harsher, higher revving note I guess.

[soad]

threespires said:

"famous ED tankstelle"

Never heard of it, so not that famous.
Exactly what is "ED tankstelle"?

Sounds like a petrol station? Happy to be corrected.

[joema]

Add a big GT3 wing to the back and it'll not look far off the race cars. hmmm.

[terenceb]

soad said:

Sounds like a petrol station? Happy to be corrected.

Exactly that-as anyone who has been to the ring would know . looks

[Shaoxter]

The front of the Vette looks almost exactly like an F Type.

[flatso]

Shaoxter said:

The front of the F Type looks almost exactly like a Vette.

There...fixed it for you!

[Dakkon]

That Z28 looks fabulous, very tempted by one...

[Matt Bird]

Apologies for not clarifying the ED Tankstelle in the original story, I've added it's a petrol station now.


Matt

[UltimaCH]

threespires said:

"famous ED tankstelle"

Never heard of it, so not that famous.
Exactly what is "ED tankstelle"?

ED is a petrol company in Germany, so I imagine there must be an ED petrol station in the vicinity of the "Ring" where all sorts of vehicles pop in to quench their thirst before going or returning to the track.

[P4ROT]

Ahh, what would we do without B2G.

[p1doc]

UltimaCH said:

ED is a petrol company in Germany, so I imagine there must be an ED petrol station in the vicinity of the "Ring" where all sorts of vehicles pop in to quench their thirst before going or returning to the track.

another thing to do at ring go to garage fill up petrol get sticker peruse car models and clothing then currywurst after-sorted
some lovely cars come to get petrol so ican sit around rare car spotting
martin

[Z06George]

joema said:

Add a big GT3 wing to the back and it'll not look far off the race cars. hmmm.

Not sure about the Camaro but the Z06 was built using tech learnt from the race car.

[Dakkon]

Z06George said:

joema said:

Add a big GT3 wing to the back and it'll not look far off the race cars. hmmm.

Not sure about the Camaro but the Z06 was built using tech learnt from the race car.

The new Z06 is what the next gen race car will be based on so a number of its features are specifically to help with endurance racing, much wider track etc etc

[suffolk009]

patmahe said:

This video makes me want to move to somewhere like the Rockies, (I'm aware thats Canada) get my hands on a Camaro, fill it with some reasonably priced fuel and drive the hell out of it, all the time rejoicing in the sound of its V8 echoing off the rock face

I was in the alps a couple of weekends ago. I was surprised by how much American muscle there was there - plenty of grunt to get up the hills, but perhaps not the best for the hairpins.

Edited by suffolk009 on Tuesday 30th September 15:38

[willisit]

I'd be happy with a standard SS.. but either. I'll take any of them!

[Gixer]

Dakkon said:

Z06George said:

joema said:

Add a big GT3 wing to the back and it'll not look far off the race cars. hmmm.

Not sure about the Camaro but the Z06 was built using tech learnt from the race car.

The new Z06 is what the next gen race car will be based on so a number of its features are specifically to help with endurance racing, much wider track etc etc

The new car was developed in tandem with Pratt and Miller (the builders of the race car). The next gen race car (the C7R) is already out there and in use.

[zeta3]

patmahe said:

This video makes me want to move to somewhere like the Rockies, (I'm aware thats Canada) get my hands on a Camaro, fill it with some reasonably priced fuel and drive the hell out of it, all the time rejoicing in the sound of its V8 echoing off the rock face

Somewhere like this would do

Watch out, fuel is not so cheap in Canada.. cheaper than in most EU countries but not as cheap as in the USA

[BBL-Sean]

patmahe said:

This video makes me want to move to somewhere like the Rockies, (I'm aware thats Canada)...

Approximately half of the Rocky Mountain range is in the U.S.A., with the southern end of the range extending all the way into northern New Mexico. Whether in Canada or the U.S.A., cheap fuel + good roads all through the Rockies.