In a history-making moment for American performance engineering, Chevrolet has shattered records at the Nürburgring Nordschleife with not one, but three powerful Corvette variants each driven by an in-house engineer rather than a professional racer.
During a single testing session at the legendary 12.9-mile track, Chevrolet’s Z06, ZR1, and the groundbreaking ZR1X all set blazing lap times, positioning themselves among the fastest cars ever to lap the ‘Green Hell’—and claiming the title of fastest lap times ever achieved by an American manufacturer at the Nürburgring.
Engineers at the Wheel, Records on the Board
Rather than relying on seasoned race drivers, Chevrolet entrusted three of its own engineers—each deeply involved in the development of these vehicles—to take the wheel. The results were stunning:
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Drew Cattell, behind the wheel of the ZR1X, clocked a blistering 6:49.275, making it the fastest lap ever by a non-professional driver using an AWD hybrid-electric American supercar with 1,250 horsepower.
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Brian Wallace, driving the ZR1 with a twin-turbo V8 pushing 1,064 hp, followed with a time of 6:50.763.
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Aaron Link, piloting the naturally aspirated Z06 with 670 hp, completed his lap in 7:11.826.
All three engineers boast hundreds of laps at the Nürburgring and collectively bring decades of performance development experience to GM’s engineering table.
Performance Without Compromise
What makes this feat even more impressive is that all three Corvettes were U.S. production-spec vehicles, with only safety-related modifications in line with Nürburgring regulations—like roll cages, racing seats, and fire suppression systems.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the cars:
| Model | Powertrain | Horsepower | Brakes | Tires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z06 (Z07 package) | 5.5L NA flat-plane V8 | 670 hp | Carbon-ceramic (6-piston front) | Michelin Cup 2R |
| ZR1 (ZTK package) | Twin-turbo 5.5L flat-plane V8 | 1,064 hp | Carbon-ceramic (10-piston front) | Michelin Cup 2R |
| ZR1X (ZTK AWD) | Twin-turbo V8 + front electric motor | 1,250 hp | Carbon-ceramic (10-piston front) | Michelin Cup 2R |
A Documentary of Speed
To mark this achievement, GM is launching a documentary titled “Homegrown Speed: A Corvette Story”, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the journey from the Milford Proving Ground in the U.S. to the Nürburgring. It highlights the vision, testing, and the personal dedication of the engineers-turned-drivers who made history.
Corvette vs The World
While the ZR1X and ZR1 times are labeled as pre-production/prototype, they now sit among the fastest lap times ever recorded at the Nürburgring:
| Rank | Vehicle | Time | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes-AMG One | 6:29.090 | Hypercar |
| 2 | Porsche 911 GT2 RS Manthey | 6:43.300 | Sports Car |
| 5 | Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X | 6:49.275 | Pre-Production |
| 7 | Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 | 6:50.763 | Pre-Production |
The Green Hell Has New Kings
GM’s Mark Reuss summed it up best:
“From development to production, we’ve proven that American engineering can dominate on the world’s toughest track—without needing a pro behind the wheel.”
This milestone doesn’t just speak to raw power—it highlights how Chevrolet is blending engineering innovation, hybrid technology, and track-proven credibility to redefine what it means to be a world-class sports car brand.
