Like it or no, the Dodge Viper ACR (for “American Club Racing”) has set a high benchmark for performance in a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive production car, and it will fall to the forthcoming Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 to best it. Few production vehicles have ever been able to lap the infamous Nürburgring Nordschleife in under 7 minutes, but one crowd-funded group was attempting to do just that with the 2017 Dodge Viper ACR.
And they might have succeeded, too, were their efforts not cut short by an unfortunate crash occurring on one of their recent attempts. You can read all about it on our sister site: Fiat Chrysler Authority.
Even though the Dodge Viper ACR ultimately failed to come in at below seven minutes around the Nordschleife, its best recorded lap time – 7:01.3 – is undeniably impressive. That’s just 4.3 seconds behind the Porsche 918 Spyder on the 12.9-mile track, and less than 2 seconds behind the Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce.
Will we see a sub-7-minute Nürburgring Nordschleife time from the next Chevrolet Corvette ZR1? It’s certainly possible; the current Z06 already makes a hefty 650 horsepower – 5 more than the Dodge Viper ACR. When the ZR1 comes along, we could be looking at the first-ever Corvette with more than 700 horsepower from the factory.
Assuming this is the case, whether or not the ZR1 can outrun the ACR will likely come down to aerodynamics. The Viper ACR makes more downforce than any other production car ever built, helping the car to corner, but cutting into its top speed. With patent images circulating that depict a new active aerodynamic system for the high-performance ‘Vette, it’s possible the sportscar will be better able to weather that compromise.
Comments
“…When the ZR1 comes along, we could be looking at the first-ever Corvette with more than 700 horsepower from the factory…”
Yes, we could be looking at the first-ever Corvette with more than 700 horsepower, but not at the first-ever Corvette with overheating problems from the factory. Okay, bigger holes in the front, but no TIKT cooling package behind…
Was the ACR certified as factory stock?
Sauerbier Ha Ha is that all you come up with ? Now that the Viper is on it last year of life and not even factory stock ,trying to challenge a factory stock Corvette ZR1 ha ha ha !!
No matter what the Corvette lives on and the Viper is left to the dust pan of history.
Winner Corvette!
The Z will best 7 min and still be easy to drive in the street.
Ever seen a Viper even a standard one pull into a driveway with any incline. My buddy had to use boards not to scrape.
It’s unclear whether Chevrolet has picked a large enough rear wing for sufficient down force to keep the Corvette ZR1 planted on the ground as this was what was wrong with the C7 Corvette Z06 as the rear spoiler was simply too small to generate sufficient downforce to keep the rear wheels planted on the ground; it’ll be interesting next year as reports suggest that Chevrolet plans on selling the new mid-engine C8 Corvette Zora alongside the current rear-wheel drive C7 Corvette.
It is not how big your wing is but how you handle the air. Active Aero does some magical things. Note a Ferrari uses many truck and forgo large wings.
Second it is how much power is going to the ground also, be it bigger or stickier tires.
Third is stopping and slowing. Here again tires brakes and weight are in play.
The acr is a beast, but is notorious for putting non factory tires and other tricks to set records. It happened when the zr1 beat its time, they put better tires on it and then beat the zr1…except that’s not how it came from factory. Not sure about this one.
I asked the question because R compound race tires will make a drastic difference on the track compared to even the best HP street tires. (Michelin Super Sports). I have 20 years of track experience and have compared it first hand.