[VIDEO] John Hennessey Drives and Reviews the New Corvette ZR1 with ZTK

Dec 18, 2025

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[VIDEO] John Hennessey Drives and Reviews the Corvette ZR1

At the Pennzoil Proving Grounds outside Sealy, Texas, John Hennessey of Hennessey Performance stands beside Chevrolet’s latest weapon: the brand-new C8 Corvette ZR1 equipped with the ZTK high-downforce track package. For a man who’s spent decades pushing the limits of performance cars, his verdict comes quickly—”spoiler alert: I really like this car a lot.”

The ZR1’s reputation precedes it. Videos have already shown the car storming through quarter miles in the mid-9s, trapping between 145 and 153 mph depending on the weather. Yet what impresses Hennessey most isn’t just the raw numbers—it’s the usability. “You could almost use the ZR1 as a daily driver,” he says, fresh off a road trip to Austin for a pool game with Joe Rogan.

[VIDEO] John Hennessey Drives and Reviews the New Corvette ZR1 with ZTK

With 1,064 horsepower and 828 lb-ft of torque delivered through a dual-clutch transmission, the ZR1 is world-class in both speed and refinement. “The C8 was already a tremendous value,” Hennessey notes. “But the ZR1 is world class in so many ways.”

The ZTK package equips the car with Michelin Cup 2R tires, aggressive aero, and suspension tuning that makes it a Nürburgring contender. Factory engineers have already clocked lap times in the 6:40–6:50 range on the Nordschleife—numbers that put the Corvette in rarefied company.

At roughly $230,000, Hennessey argues the ZR1 delivers performance that rivals cars costing far more. “I’ve got a bunch of cars that cost more than that that don’t have near the performance,” he says. “The performance bang-for-the-buck ratio, I don’t know if there’s another car that can do what the ZR1, especially with the ZTK, can do for the money.”

Sliding into the redesigned-for-2026 cabin, Hennessey praises the simplified controls and logical and intuitive layout, with the Great Wall of Buttons noticeably missing. Compared to his Porsche 992 GT3 RS, he finds the Corvette potentially even more comfortable. Then comes the throttle, the real reason for this car.

“Woo! That’ll wake you up,” he laughs, as the car rockets to 160 mph from a dig. The gearbox keeps pace, the suspension transfers weight smoothly, and even when traction breaks, the car regains composure. “You can’t be stupid in this car—it will punish you. But still, I think very, very drivable.”

Hennessey teases what’s next: the ZR1X, a twin-turbo V8 hybrid with 1,250 horsepower and all-wheel drive. Rumors suggest quarter-mile times in the high 8s—territory once reserved for purpose-built drag cars. “For a factory car that you can just go buy from the dealership with a warranty,” he says, “it’s an insane level of power and performance for the money.”

For Hennessey, part of the appeal is the car’s edge. “If it’s trying to kill me, that’s more of an attraction for me,” he admits. “I like cars that are kind of edgy and maybe a little bit on the dangerous side. That’s part of my bonding process.”

By the end of his session, the verdict is clear: the ZR1 has earned his respect, and perhaps a permanent spot in his garage. “I’ve pretty well bonded with [it],” he concludes.