The 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE provided some shock and awe yesterday when it was revealed the muscle car turned world-beater ran the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife in a crazy quick 7:16.04. But, how do other American performance cars stack up?
Motor1 compiled a list of the 10 quickest cars around the Nürburgring and something stuck out like a red, white and blue sore thumb: General Motors dominates at the ‘Ring.
Seven of the ten cars are GM performance vehicles—the most recent being the 2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE. Only the 2010 Dodge Viper ACR is quicker with a 7:12.13 time. The Viper ACR is also still one of the top ten quickest cars around the track overall.
Third place goes to the 2012 C6 Corvette ZR1 with its 7:19.63 lap time, followed by the 2011 C6 Corvette Z06 at 7:22.68. The 2017 Camaro ZL1 rounds out the top five with its 7:29.6 lap time.
Making our way down the list, the 2014 Camaro Z/28 is sixth with a 7:37.4 time; the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V sits in seventh with a 7:59 flat time and the 2005 C6 Corvette ties the CTS-V, which also ran a 7:59 time.
Why aren’t there many Fords on the list? The blue oval doesn’t care much for the lap times and has gone on the record to basically say they are irrelevant. We have a feeling the GT350R and the new GT would mix things up, however.
Without Ford, GM retains dominance at the Nürburgring, even if the pesky Viper holds on tight to its record.
Comments
Perhaps the Ring is irrelevant to Ford, only because it’s products are not as competitive in challenges such as the Ring poses.
“Irrelevant” _code for we can’t compete. Yes, you can. Put your cars on the Ring.
It might be funding issues, Ford is a little cash strapped, or Fords infamous penny pinchers won’t open the purse to fund a Ring attack.
The Ring develops world class handling. Ford can’t afford to ignore this tool that fine tunes equipment and promotes products that do well at the Ring.
“Cash strapped?” Throughout time? When has Ford been competitive in The Ring? You are right, Tre Deuce to a certain extent. To compete in the top ten in The Ring, you need vehicles with power, performance, and handling that can survive and excel in The Ring. I am very proud of the representation of American engineering in the Ring’s Top Ten of America’s cars. Too bad that Ford is not there. I wish it were.
Where is the Corvette C7 Z06???
They would’ve had a time, but the accident at the track changed the plans. I’m sure if it went through that it would’ve did great.
The Upcoming Z-28 may displace the Viper ACR. I have a feeling that this is the plan.
@Sean
Do you read the comments to your own posts?
“We have a feeling the GT350R and the new GT would mix things up, however.”
2015 350R #40
2004 Ford GT #91
https://nurburgringlaptimes.com/lap-times-top-100/
A keen eye will notice there is NO onboard video!
Ford built the latest GT to beat Ferrari (witch they did) at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on the 50th anniversary of Ford’s first overall victory there.
The 2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE just outran every Ferrari that has ever laid rubber to ground at “the Ring”!
Your comments border on fanaticism. Pretty easy to pound your chest comparing to a 13 yr old Ford GT. Ferrari has several current cars which could run into to 6s and the 2017 Ford GT could as well. The Italians are running their own tracks and Ford sees no purpose in promoting a car which could have 1000 buyers for every car available. That car was built for LeMans and it repeated total domination first, third and fourth like it did back in 1966…
Your comments border on fanaticism. Pretty easy to pound your chest comparing to a 13 yr old Ford GT. Ferrari has several current cars which could run into to 6s and the 2017 Ford GT could as well. The Italians are running their own tracks and Ford sees no purpose in promoting a car which could have 1000 buyers for every car available. That car was built for LeMans and it repeated total domination first, third and fourth like it did back in 1966… Mission accomplished.
“Fanaticism”? and yours is “1000 supposed number of buyers for a car” that is limited to 250 units a year?
Bold!
My point, the author of this article already knows the answer to his own speculation!
As far as what the new GT as well as your 6 minute Ferrari’s?
“Get in the Ring”!
Then we’ll see if it’s “Mission accomplished” (more “Fanaticism”)
Ford says the competition can never say their cars are better then ours if we never put ours on the track. Then ford can claim what ever they want and never have to be called on the carpet for it!