https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7j1gCM6-5M
The Ford GT sure had a great run at VIR in January, and we sincerely hope it enjoyed it’s whole week on top. We would also like to congratulate Ford for getting their American made supercar around the VIR track faster than the Dodge Viper ACR, and other impressive cars like the Porsche 918 Spyder, to grab that record right out of the Vipers grasp. But it just wasn’t enough to hold down against Chevy’s new super beast, the C7 ZR1.
When the Ford GT went to VIR and ran a lap time of 2:38.6, everyone was impressed, except Chevy, they were ready to show them who the real boss was before another week passed. The Chevy Corvette ZR1 has officially stolen the Ford GT’s record, and did so like the killer it is and took it by an entire second.
Equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission, and ZTK performance package, a 2019 Chevy Corvette ZR1 has cleared the Virginia International Raceway’s Grand Course West layout in 2:37.25 seconds, a whole 1.37 seconds faster than the Ford GT’s time. Aside from stealing the title from Ford, which always feels good, this run has solidified the C7 Corvette ZR1’s place as being the fastest production vehicle to ever run the course.
The ZTK performance package option is an extra $2,995 added to the tag, and gives the ZR1 an adjustable carbon fiber wing, a front splitter, Micheline Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, and a track-ready magnetic ride control setup. The only thing not stock during the VIR run on the ZR1 that made the lap was a harness bar and five-point harness, and obviously that didn’t give it any performance edge over stock.
Jim Mero, a Nurburgring master driver, was behind the wheel of the car during the lap, and Chevy is quick to point out that Mero is an engineer, not a professional driver. The ZR1 is likely heading to the Nurburgring, so stay tuned for more record breaking laps.
Shawn Henry is a Texas native who has spent the majority of his career building and selling F-Bodies and Corvettes. Now studying journalism, he is taking a new direction with his love of GM Performance vehicles.
