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2019 C7 Corvette ZR1 Sets VIR Lap Record, Spanks Ford GT In The Process

Ford doesn’t care much for lap times and records, but it happily gloated that the Ford GT set a new production car record lap at Virginia International Raceway this week.

The 2019 C7 Corvette ZR1 had something to say about that.

Chevrolet announced the 755-horsepower Corvette ZR1 lapped VIR in 2:37.25, which makes it the quickest production car at the circuit and dethroned the GT’s days-old record. The GT managed to scoot around the track in 2:38.62, though the brand insisted the GT and racing driver Billy Johnson achieved the time during routine diagnostic testing and in far from ideal track conditions.

But, so the story goes, the Corvette ZR1 also happened to set the record during routine diagnostic testing, but with an engineer behind the wheel—not a racing driver. The record gave way to a fairly blunt quote from GM product chief Mark Reuss:

On the racetrack, the ZR1 can compete with any supercar — at any price.

Chevrolet added the Corvette ZR1 managed the new record with a stock setup and factory Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 summer-only tires. The only differences from the production car were a harness bar and five-point harnesses.

The brand provided onboard video of the lap via the Corvette ZR1’s Performance Data Recorder as proof of achievement. We doubt Ford will change its tune over lap records, but as it stands, Chevy is king of the VIR hill.

Former GM Authority staff writer.

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Comments

  1. “Old man’s car” my a**

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  2. Speechless….And to think they weren’t even going for a record when they set it!!!! Long live American engineering!

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  3. Chevrolet’s C7 Corvette ZR1 appears to be ready for a flight to Germany’s Nurburgring next.

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  4. The time of ZR1 on the Ring:

    6:49:12

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  5. So it’s safe to say that the c8 will run circles around the competition when it gets here?

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    1. as meg ryan said in “when harry met sally” :

      yes!!! yes!!! yes!!! yes!!! yes!!! yes!!! yes!!! yes!!! yes!!! yes!!! yes!!! yes!!! yes!!! yes!!! yes!!! yes!!! yes!!! yes!!! yes!!! yes!!!

      Reply
  6. The super Douchette breaks the country club parking valet race record!!.

    Can we get a performance / practical GM that we can afford?.

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    1. Maybe you need to get a better job in order to afford a 120k car! Instead of asking GM to solve your problems maybe you should solve the problem on your own for a change! As for GM keep building these super cars!

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      1. Yes! Yes! Yes! Please keep it up. Step up the production and get these cars on the road ASAP!!! I cannot wait!!!

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    2. For you, the Cobalt SS may be your best bet and quite affordable.

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      1. Yea, I would had to get an Cobalt SS since GM dunderheads won’t make an Cruze SS.

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  7. So, when you pick your Vette up Mr. B?. Oh you too can’t afford the $120k Douchette, can I show you to the stickercharged Cruze, or Sonic, no no real performance additions just an cool looking paint job for Mid-Westerners to skip an heartbeat for….

    Making halo cars while the rest of the car line-up sucks don’t do anything for Chevy performance, the Vette was created because the need having a Chevy V8 from the standard sedan in a smaller car now we can’t get the V8 or even the rwd sedan anymore nor a affordable performance GM outside Camaro, wake-up GM.

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  8. Set a record with that drive. Made a bunch of mistakes, must have been a first run? Let Randy Pobst in the pilots seat.

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  9. And the ZR1 sounds (SC V8) so much better than the forced fed V6 (which are fine and have a place – but not in a super car such as the GT) so hats off to GM here. Leave the performance super car 6 cylinders to Porsche!
    Personally though, as I’m not in to paying $125,000 (much less four times that amount in the case of the GT) for any one car, I would prefer a lightly used 2005 – 2006 Ford GT or Corvette ZO6…which are better looking too…and leaves more money for???
    Until I have more money than I know what to do with I’ll have to enjoy my Mustang GT and Jaguar XK 🙂
    Additionally the exclusivity, price and practicality of driving the new GT pretty much condemns it to being parked in the garage as does the ugliness of the ZR1.

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    1. Have you seen last gen Ford GT prices? There’s a reason Ford is reaching with the current model.

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  10. Impressive! Looking at that video, it show that the driver left a lot to be desired as far as his driving was concern. Wow! He actually set a record with such poor non aggressive driving. Now all of those overprice super cars are really worried now.

    By the way, Ford should have put a proper V-8 TT in the GT to really enforce its dominance at that price of admission.

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  11. Awesome..Can’t wait to see it’s time from “The Ring” and who it dethrones there. And the C8 is supposed to be even better?
    UnF’nBelievable…

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  12. Man I want a C8 already.

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  13. Let’s do 40 hot laps at VIR. No wait, how about at Daytona. No wait, how about 40 laps anywhere on the same tires and no dinasaur juice refill. FORD GT WINS! TIRES ARE BARELY WARM, STILL PLENTY OF GAS IN TANK AND DRIVER HAS JUST FINISHED HER LATTE WHILE PAINTING HER TOE NAILS. Bette needs tires, gas and a new driver for next 40 laps. Keep deluding people!

    Reply

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