[VIDEO] 2026 Corvette ZR1X Sets Two New Track Records at Sonoma, NCM Motorsports Park

The Corvette ZR1X added two more trophies to its growing résumé this week, claiming production‑car lap records at both Sonoma Raceway and NCM Motorsports Park. All the thrills and sounds were captured on a pair of videos.

The record-setting times were unveiled during the National Corvette Museum’s annual Bash, where enthusiasts packed the room to see just how far America’s hypercar has pushed the limits this time. That both laps came from GM engineers highlights the skill embedded within the company’s development teams — and how effectively Corvette is channeling its racing knowledge into a rapidly expanding roster of production‑car records.

At Sonoma Raceway, Corvette Chassis Controls Engineer Cody Bulkley stopped the clocks at 1:34.17, eclipsing the previous 1:34.94 mark set by professional driver Randy Pobst in a ZR1. Bulkley’s lap, set on February 9, showcased the ZR1X’s blend of power, grip, and chassis intelligence. He carried 148 mph into Turn 1, endured more than 2G of deceleration into Turn 3, and hit a remarkable moment of combined load between Turns 9 and 10: 0.9g lateral on throttle, 0.9g longitudinal, and 1.1g vertical.

Bulkley is no stranger to extreme conditions — he’s represented Corvette twice at the FAT Ice Race — but Sonoma demanded precision, not theatrics. His lap delivered both, and the record now belongs to a GM engineer rather than a hired gun.

Just weeks later, another engineer added Corvette’s hometown track to the list. At NCM Motorsports Park, located only minutes from Bowling Green Assembly, Vehicle Dynamics Engineer Drew Cattell laid down a blistering 2:02.11 on April 20. That time toppled the previous production‑car record of 2:02.86 set by Andy Pilgrim in a McLaren Senna — a million‑dollar track weapon.

Cattell’s run was a masterclass in commitment: 169 mph into Turn 1, 1.85g of braking, and a staggering 1.45g of lateral load exiting Turn 15. For context, this is the same engineer who ran a 6:49.275 at the Nürburgring in a ZR1X — the fastest official lap ever recorded there by a non‑professional driver.

Both records underscore a point Corvette fans already know: the ZR1X isn’t just fast in theory. It’s fast in the hands of the people who built it. GM’s engineering teams continue to apply lessons from Corvette Racing to production development, and the results keep rewriting leaderboards across North America.

Two tracks. Two engineers. Two new records. And the ZR1X’s legend keeps growing.

Source:
Chevrolet

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