Corvette Stingray Runs Car and Driver’s Lightning Lap but the Camaro Z/28 Steals the Show

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Corvette Stingray Runs Car and Driver's Lightning Lap but the Camaro Z/28 Steals the Show

The latest Car and Driver issue with the rendering of the mid-engine 2017 Corvette ZORA on the cover also features the results from the magazine’s annual Lightning Lap competition where the latest stock/unmodified offerings from selected manufacturers are raced against the clock at Virginia International Raceway.

For the 7th Annual Lightning Lap, 25 cars were selected and grouped into classes based on selling price and this year’s competition features both the 2014 Corvette Stingray and the 2014 Camaro Z/28. Thanks to a post on the forums at VW Vortex, we have the results!

The 2014 Corvette Stingray ran Car and Driver’s 2014 Lightning Lap at 2:53.8 seconds at 84.9 mph with a peak speed of 148.1 mph.

This time compares very well to previous Corvettes on the list. If you remember, the Stingray’s performance was estimated to be better than the C6 Grand Sport, but not quite as good as the 505 hp C6 Corvette Z06 and those numbers are certainly reflected in previous Lightning Lap runs:

  • 2:50.7 – 2012 Corvette ZR1 (Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Tires)
  • 2:51.8 – 2009 Corvette ZR1 (Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 Tires)
  • 2:53.5 – 2011 Corvette Z06 (Z07)
  • 2:53.8 – 2014 Corvette Stingray (Z51)
  • 2:58.2 – 2007 Corvette Z06
  • 2:58.5 – 2010 Corvette Grand Sport

As you can see, the 2014 Corvette was faster than the Grand Sport in the Lightning Lap by nearly 5 full seconds and was just 3 tenths of a second behind the 2011 Carbon Edition Corvette Z06.

The Corvette Stingray was featured in the LL2 Class which ranges in base car pricing from $35,000 – $64,999, and though the C7 was priced a little higher (as tested) at $65,665, it still was included in the LL2 class. Other vehicles in the LL2 class were the BMW M235i, Cadillac’s CTS VSport, Lexus IS350 F Sport, Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG and the Subaru WRX STI.

The Stingray outperformed every car in its class with the second place contender being the Mercedez-Benz CLA45 AMG which finished at 3:05.9. The Stingray also outperformed every car but one in the LL3 class which has cars ranging in price from $65,000-$124,999. The one car that it didn’t beat: The 2014 Camaro Z/28.

Corvette Stingray Runs Car and Driver's Lightning Lap but the Camaro Z/28 Steals the Show

The Camaro Z/28 is a dedicated track car built for the streets and with the 505 horsepower LS7 on board, the Z/28 ran away from the LL3 class with a Lightning Lap time of 2:50.9 at 86.4 mph and a peak speed of 145.3 mph. Compared to previous Camaros, the Z/28 gained nearly 8-seconds against the 2013 Camaro ZL1 which was grouped in the LL2 Class and ran a lap at 2:57.5.

Compared against the 2012 Corvette ZR1, the Camaro Z/28 was just one tenth of a second behind which says a lot for how much better these cars seem to get every year.

The Camaro Z/28 also decimated every contender in its class as well which includes the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model, the BMW M4, Jaguar F-Type R Coupe, the Porsche Cayman S and the Audi RS7. The Camaro was almost 9 seconds faster than the 2nd place LL3 car, the Mercedes E63 AMG S-Model.

In case you are wondering which vehicles earned the fastest times, the Porsche 918 Spyder which was priced at $875,175 ran the course in 2:43.1 at an average of 90.5 mph. The Porsche features 887 horsepower and with a curb weight of 3724, the Pounds to Horsepower ratio is 4.2, the lowest of the 25 cars tested. The second place finisher was the Nissan GT-R Nismo which is priced at $151,880 and ran the Lightning Lap at 2:49.4 at 87.1 mph.

One last thought about the Lightning Lap Competition for comparison. GM’s famed Corvette test driver Jim Mero has run faster laps in both the C6 Corvette ZR1 and the 2014 Corvette Stingray at VIR with the Stingray coming in at a blistering 2:51.78 seconds while his ZR1 time is 2:45.63.

You can view the complete list of archived Lightning Lap times at Car and Driver and make sure you check out the full 2014 Lightning Lap competition in the October 2014 Issue of Car and Driver. It will be in the magazine with the mid-engine Corvette ZORA on the cover!


Source:
Car and Driver via vwvortex.com

Related:
2012 Corvette ZR1 Runs Fastest Time at Car and Driver’s Lightning Lap #6 at VIR
[VIDEO] Car and Driver Lightning Lap Features New 2011 Z07-Equipped Corvette Z06
2014 Corvette Stingray Performance Estimates Revealed

 



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