We never doubted the notion that the Chevrolet’s C7 Corvette ZR1 is quicker around the track than a Camaro ZL1 1LE, as the ZR1 not only weighs less, but is also more powerful, not to mention more expensive. But anyone who has ever wondered exactly how much quicker the Corvette ZR1 actually is around the track should wonder no more, since Germany’s Sport Auto has just posted a video of the Corvette ZR1 taking on the Camaro ZL1 1LE in a Track Battle at the Hockenheimring, which is near the town of Hockenheim in Baden-Württemberg, Germany and home to the German Grand Prix.
2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Coupe
To recap, the Corvette ZR1 derives 755 horsepower from its supercharged 6.2L V8 LT5 engine while weighing about 3,600 pounds. Those credentials allow it to hit 60 miles per hour in around 2.85 seconds while being equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 ZP tires. This particular model just so happens to have the 8-speed automatic transmission rather than the 7-speed manual.
2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
By comparison, the Camaro ZL1 with the 1LE Extreme Track Performance Package derives 650 horsepower from its supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4 engine and weighs just a smidge over 3,800 pounds, while being able to hit 60 miles per hour in about 3.5 seconds. The ZL1 1LE rides on Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R tires and has a 6-speed manual transmission.
So, without further ado, here are the results: the Camaro ZL1 1LE posted a lap time of 1:09.6, which the Corvette ZR1 bested that by almost 3 seconds with a time of 1:06.9. For reference, the length of this track configuration is 1.62 miles (2600 meters).
So, what’s your reaction to the comparison? Sound off in the comments, and be sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Camaro news, Corvette news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
I watched this video months ago and it is really nothing more than a showcase of GM’s track monsters. A lighter, more powerful ZR1 vs. a heavier, less powerful ZL1 1LE. Hmmmm, I wonder which one will win?
Both are track weapons in their perspective categories. GM nailed it with both cars!!!
Ok, so what?
One car is no longer produced..and the other has a couple years left before it’s discontinued.
IMHO….GM’s future product plan “News” is less about what’s coming and more what going to be eliminated.
who says one is going to be to be discontinued in a few years? Not GM
The CAMARO
Rumors are the Camaro’s last production year is 2024. Long ways away, LOL
Here’s a few other lap times for production cars on the Hockenheimring short circuit (all driven by Christian Gebhardt:
1. Porsche 911 GT2 RS (991) 1:03.80
2. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 1:05.40
3. Huracán Performante 1:05.50
4. McLaren 720S 1:05.50
5. Ferrari 488 GTB 1:07.00
6. Ferrari 812 Superfast 1:07:80
7. Corvette Grand Sport 1:08:30
8. Audi R8 V10 Plus mkII 1:09:00
9. BMW M4 GTS 1:09:60
10. Acura NSX mkII 1:10:00
A C7 Grand Sport coming in at #7. I’m not just saying this because I own one, but what an impressive machine. It is only bested by cars costing 3-4 times as much.
As Motor Trend said, “The C7 GS is truly the most balanced Corvette to have ever been produced.”.
Great cars!
Too bad they didn’t do the full course so that we could compare to all the other cars that they have done.
1.6 mile track is too short for these monsters. need at least a 3 mile track to really show the awesomeness of these vehicles.
Wait a darn minute here. This was not a fair comparison. The ZL1 1LE was a manual trans and the ZR1 was an auto trans.
Why do they test track cars with M/T? Everybody knows that a car equipped with a A/T runs faster lap times then M/T.
Please explain
On a drag strip, yes. On a road course, not always.
Depending on the transmission, a human with a manual can still shift faster and find the correct gear better than some automatics. In this case, neither the ZL1 1LE, nor the ZR1 has a DCT available. The 10-speed is an option on the Camaro and an 8-speed in the Vette. As Randy Pobst said not too long ago, “If it’s not a DCT, most pro drivers with a manual can still beat an auto around a track.”.
Then why dont the posted numbers support this? And why dont they take 4 cars to these test? Two ZL1 M/T, A/T and two ZR1 M/T, A/T and see what the numbers tell us.
The m AZ majority of the public are not professional drivers but we want to be able to lay down the fastest most consist lap times
I’m not certain which “posted numbers” you are speaking of. If you’re speaking of Ray L’s post above, all but one of those cars is a DCT (which I previously stated, is faster than a manual on the strip or a road course).
Sure, not everybody can be a professional driver, but when testing these vehicles for maximum performance, a professional driver is required. If somebody isn’t a master at heel-toe shifting, or even driving a manual around a track, the automatic will undoubtedly be faster for them.
As I said above, with a professional driver behind the wheel on a ROAD COURSE, the manual will be faster than an automatic (not a DCT) more often than not.
Here is an article from 2017. Randy Pobst raced two 6th Gen ZL1’s around Willow Springs (back-to-back). The cars were identical, except for the transmission. One had a manual, the other had the 10-speed automatic.
Article from CarBuzz:
“The thing is, there are two versions of the ZL1 (not including the recently released ZL1 1LE), a six-speed manual version and a ten-speed automatic that GM once said would shift faster than a double clutch transmission. Upon taking it out to Willow Springs raceway, professional race car driver Randy Pobst finds that he can beat the automatic version by .32 of a second. That is by no means a country mile, but it’s a boon to the Save The Manuals campaign because it proves that not all automatic cars are better. Driving skill outweighs computer edge any day, not always because it supplies the better lap time as was shown in this case, but because regardless of which car wins, the driver is likely happier in the manual.”.
That’s all well and fine but in terms of over all performance a M/T is not faster. On a road coarse it might be a bit faster but not at the dragstrip!!!
This M/T talk is pointless in my opinion because it’s only a matter of time before every A/T will shift faster then a manual.
I love driving a M/T but let’s face it they are a dying breed. Numbers dont lie, the gap between the two transmissions use to be a mile now it’s going the other way.
I am just smart enough to recognize this.
I have never said (in either of my comments) that a manual is faster on a drag strip because it is not. Period. The very first sentence of my very first comment says that a standard automatic will beat a manual on the drag strip. It’s no secret. Automatics have been faster on the strip for quite some time. We were talking about road courses. The article’s video pertains to a road course.
I’ve said (and shown proof) that a manual is faster than a standard automatic (not a DCT) on a road course. Unless you believe that Randy Pobst is lying. And Randy didn’t just beat a 6-speed auto from 2008 or the 8-speed auto (slushbox) in the C7 Corvette. He beat GM’s mighty 10-speed auto.
I will simplify it for you:
Drag Strip—DCT>Automatic>Manual
Road Course—DCT>Manual>Automatic
Here’s what I think happens. These professional drivers will drive the M/T harder then the A/T in order to make their driving talent seem better.
See the A/T are generally about .4 tenths faster then M/T in the same car. Which means that if he post .3 tenths faster per lap that means that hes is driving the car .6 to .7 tenths faster per lap in order to achieve the. 3 faster lap times.
So something is off in the numbers. A person is not shaving .6 or .7 tents off of a car based on driving talent.
You also have to remember that an automatic robs the engine of more power than a manual. It’s typically 11-12% loss for an M and 19-20% loss for an A.
Poor Randy…
A world-renowned professional race car driver and Motor Trend’s personal track driver being accused of sandbagging in the automatic even though he has absolutely nothing to prove.
Hey, to each their own. Have a good one. 🙂
Ok, so at Nurburgring the 2018 Camaro zl1 1le is 12 seconds faster than the Corvette. But that is on a road course and the Camaro was a M/T and the Vette was a A/T. Any comments from the peanut gallery?
I think GM shold of went with way more HP in a ZL1 1LE to show that the car was serious. Projected as a track monster, well, make it one. I think it should of been min 800HP. Maybe a special 1000HP. If your gonna slay the dragons , do it,