[VIDEO] 2019 Corvette ZR1 Claims the Full Course Lap Record at VIR

Most racetracks have several different configurations that can substantially lengthen or shorten the track and various track configurations can also be used to manage a racecar’s speed. Throw in a couple of chicanes and now the track distance is longer and slower. Virginia International Raceway is no different. Depending on the racing event, the track at VIR can be set up in six different configurations available.

At the end of January, Chevy’s new 2019 Corvette ZR1 had broken the production car track record while testing at VIR. The record time of 2:37.25 was set by Corvette ride and handling engineer Jim Mero on the 4.1 mile Grand West Course.

Incidently, the previous record holder on the Grand West Course was the Ford GT who owned the record for about a week.

Today Chevy brings us the news that the 2019 ZR1 was at it again, this time breaking the production car lap record on VIR’s 3.27 mile “Full Course” which Wikipedia tells us is the most common configuration for racing events at the historic track located in southern Virginia. The Full Course configuration features two main straights, a front straight which is 3,000 feet long and a back straight that is 4,000 feet long. These two long portions of the track play into the raw power and speed of the 755-horsepower Corvette ZR1 which you will see below.

The Full Course lap record happened to fall with Chevy Performance Engineer Alex MacDonald behind the wheel and thanks to the Performance Data Recorder video, we see speeds as high as 175 mph as he flies down the back straight and finished the lap with a time of 1:51.25:

FastestLaps.com shows the Full Course lap time record was held by the Dodge Viper ACR with a time of 1:57.03. Interestingly, the driver of that time was listed as Ralph Gilles, the head honcho of Chrysler’s SRT brand before being promoted to head of design for Fiat Chrysler in April 2015.

Source:
Chevrolet / YouTube

Related:
[VIDEO] 2019 Corvette ZR1 Nails a Record Lap at VIR with a Time of 2:37.25
[VIDEO] Watch Randy Pobst Break the Road Atlanta Track Record in the 2019 Corvette ZR1
[VIDEO] 2017 Corvette Z06 with New Magnetic Shock Calibrations Runs 2:39.77 at VIR