Corvette ZR1X totally rains on Mustang GTD parade
Power-mad hybrid is quicker at the 'Ring than a 911 GT3 RS too, making it the fastest US production car ever
Credit where it’s due to Corvette, it really doesn’t entertain any half measures. Why have just one model with more than a thousand horsepower, when you could have two? Why offer just the 655hp hybrid, when you could offer a 1,200hp twin-turbo one? And why take one model to do a scorching Nordschleife lap, when you could take three?
That’s what they’ve just done, a Z06, ZR1 and ZR1X all taken to the Nurburgring - despite the latter two not being sold in Europe. But we all know why it’s been done, and that’s to show the Mustang GTD who is really king of the ‘ring. Which they’ve duly done, with both ZR1 and ZR1X lapping faster than the Ford; the 1,078hp ZR1 went around in 6:50.763, the 1,267hp X in 6:49.275. The Mustang’s best is 6:52.072. Which is some going for a front-engined car with 200-odd horsepower less than even the ZR1, but then laptimes don’t really care for such subtleties; if you aren’t faster, you’re slower.
There may even be more time to be had, because the laps were achieved by Corvette engineers (Drew Cattell in the ZR1X, Brian Wallace in the ZR1, Aaron Link in the Z06) rather than full-time racers. Clearly, they’re very handy drivers, but just imagine if the cars were offered for sale in Europe, production versions could be lapped - and cars other than Porsches could be at the top of the Nurburgring tree. That would be pretty cool.
Moreover, it’s interesting to note just how little time separates the ZR1 and ZR1X, despite the latter’s additional power and extra pair of driven wheels. You would have expected, purely on the stats, for it to be further ahead. Either way though, it’s some display of performance from Corvette.
The 679hp Z06, for what it’s worth, lapped in 7:11.826. A seriously fast time in any other scenario, particularly for a naturally aspirated car, if a little outdone this time around by the turbocharged models. All the Corvettes, despite posting eligible times for the Pre-production/Prototype category, were running the carbon wheels and Michelin Cup 2R tyres available from the factory. The Z06 had the Z07 Performance Package, then both the ZR1 variants were equipped with the ZTK Performance Package. We know you know what that means.
“No auto manufacturer has done a Nürburgring lap attempt like this before,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “From development through production, and now at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, the Green Hell, we have clearly shown there is no limit to what our GM engineers and vehicles can accomplish. These are the best Corvettes in history, period.” Your move, Ford…
I really like the GTD though - that trick suspension and the noise do it for me. But $325k though? Yikes. Makes the Corvette look like a bargain at an estimated $200k price point.
sure the GTD is 300-350K and the ZR1X is like 220k but even then, being 200bhp down,less forced induction AND being front engined, and only being sub 3 seconds below it is a testiment to how good that mustang must handle
also its important to note that the 991.2 GT2 RS 6:47 was on the shorter 20.6km track. when timed for the 20.8km track as these 2, its actually only a second quicker than the GTD and 2 seconds slower than the ZR1X
also am the only one in thinking the 7:11 by the Z06 is actually really weak? like a 2018 600LT is quicker, while a M4 CSL is barely 2 seconds slower
Ford Performance on YouTube have a pretty decent video with Max Verstappen driving Chris Harris around a track in a GTD. There's nothing quite like the whine of a supercharged V8
Yes, its not as pretty as it could have been. Although the widebody versions (with wing delete) are much better than the base car.
However....that is a seriously, seriously quick thing, especially at that price.
I really hope the C8 gets a mild refresh, especially of the ugly realr lights and a more classy "Touring" package for the Z06.
t. t. 
It's far from the nicest-looking car on sale, but the achievement is to be applauded, as is the amount of car you get for the money compared to some similar European equivalents.
Imagine moaning about a 1,000+ BHP twin-turbo V8 and saying you'd rather have a diesel Golf ffs. Only on Pistonheads...
t. 
I might be a bit strange, but if I saw one of these Corvettes or a GTD, I'd smile and want to ask the owner about them how much fun they are to drive. The though of insulting them wouldn't cross my mind.
t. t. It's far from the nicest-looking car on sale, but the achievement is to be applauded, as is the amount of car you get for the money compared to some similar European equivalents.
Imagine moaning about a 1,000+ BHP twin-turbo V8 and saying you'd rather have a diesel Golf ffs. Only on Pistonheads...
TX.
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