[VIDEO] The Truth About Nürburgring Lap Times Means Bad News for the Corvette ZR1 and ZR1X

1. As someone who has driven the Green Hell among other tracks, I never understood the allure of going for an ‘official time’ there. As an engineer, I can say that it’s a really decent laboratory due to the variety of geometries around it, so one can make a solid arguement that doing a lap time there doesn’t make much sense. This may explain why many OEMs don’t go for a time. Also, it should not be lost on anybody that maybe our German friends just don’t want to see outsiders show them up in their backyard, so they make it difficult to go do it.

   Just my $0.02.

   That said, it still would have been cool to see where it stands among the giants, even if it’s just for bragging rights.

2. If most of the best road racing courses are in the US, and the American Supercar holds the record at those tracks, isn’t that German track a tad bit irrelevant?

3. Dave, I think it’s more for the Chevy haters out there whom are rampant and fill our younger generations of Americans sadly. They only listen to Nurburgring times to compare to their favorite JDM and German cars when there’s clearly so much more to it. We know what the car is capable of and it’s quite an amazing feat, especially when you consider its cost comparative to other halo cars. I’m proud of the latest bow tie and though not a Vette owner, I have always cheered aGM Performance and as an owner of classic GM muscle and as a grassroots racing supporter. It’s deeper rooted for me than a lap time around the Ring. This is all just gravy train with a cherry on top IMO.

4. The Corvette is sold in many countries, and many of those countries see that “German” track as the one to prove your times.

5. Love this….. Germany obviously wants to keep records intact for their own cars. Let them and like other supercars, ignore going there and let Germans wonder why they don’t get competitions. Just let the world know why – this video shows why! Germany is a fantastic country, but like the erratic tariffs we are putting on other countries, some things are just unfair.

6. IMO Other than the traveling and shipping fees all the other fees would be the same for all the other manufacturers. If Ford can ‘afford it’ twice then how does GM whine about costs.

7. Gents:
   With absolute respect to all those that commented above- I live in the EU and have lived in Germany many years and have owned a BMW M6 V10…no turbo.
   The general consensus is / was that the competitive times at Nurnburgring is where the benchmark for their sportscar genetics is proven.
   But what I don’t understand is why GM tests their ZR1 + ZR1X at this track when they will have ZERO SALES in this region due to what the EU political “seniors” state as having exceeded the EU emissions standards…so why spend these huge funds to get to these below 7 sec numbers.
   In my opinion – GM should only focus on delivering what customers order…on time and at the agreed sales price….not return 7-8 months later after deposits and payments are made by their devoted customers and the charge them an additional $7K for the next year’s model..
   I bought a 2000 Corvette Roadster in Canada and it was really terrible…but I would buy a ZR1X – 2026 model but only if they guarantee the price and delivery date…or get penalized financially for not on-time delivery….nothing personal…Just plain business sense….

8. All I know…. It’s very hard to get your hands on a ZR!X….

9. David Spencer =” erratic tariffs we are putting on other countries, are just unfair ” =Typical low IQ libtard suffering from TDS.

10. Its funny to see all the Americans scramble to move the goal post. GM engineers make bold claims of 6:2x’s, they spend the money to go… underperform, and now the track is insignificant and costs too much? Lol, you can’t make this crap up. GM made a badass car and managed to utterly destroy its rollout… how do you make that car a let down? Special kind of stupid.

11. Fred, how did GM “destroy” the ZR1’s rollout when they haven’t said anything about ring times? The engineers didn’t say a thing about a 6:2x’s lap time; that was the community’s hypothesizing. The ZR1 has seen nothing but praise and allure from magazine outlets, and those who are lucky enough to own the vehicle. You’re creating a narrative that simply does not exist, and will be humorous to see shot down when GM DOES submit an official time.

12. The Germans are thin skinned and parochial about “defending” their turf by making non-German manufacturers jump through hoops, financial and otherwise in any attempts to set a Ring time. It’s also exponentially more costly for any outside manufacturers to ship cars, staff, drivers, equipment etc. over and then end up with sub-optimal weather conditions to attempt a Ring time. Pretty easy to see that It’s a game. The ZR1 has destroyed track records all over the U.S. That’s good enough for me.

13. Fred, GM engineers never stated anything about a ring time for the ZR1. Not a lick. Where are you getting your information from? The ZR1 has also received nothing but praise from journalist outlets, and people who are lucky enough to own the car. How have GM “destroyed” its rollout?

14. Yea, it’s quite difficult for manufacturers outside of Germany to set lap times at the Nurburgring. Likewise, it’s difficult for non US manufacturers to set record laps in the US as well. I suppose the Nurburgring is famous because it’s one of the longest tracks in the world, featuring many kinds of turns, elevation changes, cambers, carousels, all kinds of straights (short, medium, long), bumpy sections, high curbs, etc. It really challenges a car’s performance -acceleration, top speed, engine response, transmission speed, durability, tire management (wear and heat), downforce, suspension, ability to deal with bumps and curbs, etc.

    I would imagine Chevy wants to be able to claim the record at the Ring because they want to knock Porsche off their perch in their backyard. Also, they (well everyone) know that Nissan, being a non German brand, was able to do that before with their $80k GTR. It literally took Porsche to make the $245k 2010 997 GT2 RS to reclaim the record. That’s probably something Chevy wanna be able to replicate.

15. You are not saying anything important. All your excuses are just rubbish and borders on jealously. Chev would have known about all the fees before they went to the track.
    If others pay to get their results all you’re saying is that Chevy is cheap.
    All your are doing is making assumptions that the Germans don’t pay and they want Chevy to pay. Where is your proof.
    You’re just jealous.
    If you or Chevy think you have the record pay the fees and get the results or shut up.

16. Ford just did it recently with the GTD. Why you can’t pay and get the results too.

17. The same story run over and over for clicks. Truth is the z07 can break 7 mins under prime conditions. The zr1 can probably go south of 6:30. The fact is GM is making car writers move the goal posts to cars that retail well over 1 mil. Haha eat $4it world Corvette is king.

18. Perhaps, we are all, sometimes, like small kids, and they want to be able to tell their friends, hey, that’s my car, my car did that!

    Thanks,
    Ray

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