SHERIDAN, WYOMING – August 6, 2025 – In a thrilling showcase of homegrown horsepower, Chevrolet has made motorsport history at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. With the ZR1X and ZR1 now officially ranked among the fastest cars ever to lap the legendary “Green Hell,” America’s most iconic performance brand just reminded the world what it means to build — and drive — a Corvette.
What makes this feat even more remarkable? These weren’t pro drivers chasing records. The 6:49.275 and 6:50.763 lap times were set by the very engineers who helped design, test, and fine-tune the cars. It's an emotional win for American engineering — and a new kind of bragging right for Corvette fans everywhere.
Three Corvettes, Three Engineers, One Unmatched Day at the ‘Ring
Forget million-dollar hypercars or full-race track toys. Chevrolet’s Nürburgring run was all about production-spec vehicles piloted by internal experts who live and breathe Corvette performance.
On the 12.9-mile circuit:
- Drew Cattell, vehicle dynamics engineer, clocked a stunning 6:49.275 lap in the electrified, all-wheel-drive ZR1X, making it the fastest lap ever by a non-professional driver in Nürburgring history.
- Brian Wallace, who leads GM’s high-performance driver training, set a 6:50.763 lap in the 1,064-hp ZR1.
- Aaron Link, vehicle performance manager, pushed the 670-hp Z06 to a 7:11.826 — powered by the most potent naturally aspirated V8 in any production car.
“No auto manufacturer has done a Nürburgring lap attempt like this before,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “These are the best Corvettes in history, period.”
Homegrown Performance Meets Global Respect
The lap attempts weren’t just about chasing numbers — they told a story of passion, persistence, and performance culture. Chevrolet documented the entire experience in the new film Homegrown Speed: A Corvette Story, taking viewers from GM’s Milford Proving Ground in Michigan to the Nürburgring in Germany.
The cars were largely untouched, save for mandatory safety gear:
- Roll hoops
- Full containment racing seats
- Six-point harnesses
- Fire extinguishers
That’s it. No special race tuning, no lightweight prototypes — just raw, road-ready Corvettes, doing what they were born to do.
How These Corvettes Stack Up
Here’s a quick snapshot of the lineup that shook the ‘Ring:
Corvette Z06 (Z07 Performance Package)
- 670 hp, 5.5L flat-plane V8
- Optional carbon fiber wheels with Michelin Cup 2R tires
- Carbon ceramic brakes
Corvette ZR1 (ZTK Performance Package)
- 1,064 hp, 5.5L twin-turbo flat-plane V8
- Carbon fiber wheels, Cup 2R tires
- 10-piston front brakes
Corvette ZR1X (ZTK Performance Package)
- 1,250 hp, same V8 + front axle electric motor (AWD)
- Carbon fiber wheels, Cup 2R tires
- Same track-spec brake setup as the ZR1
Why This Nürburgring Moment Matters to Enthusiasts
The Nordschleife isn’t just a track — it’s a proving ground unlike any other. Its legendary corners, elevation changes, and brutal demands can expose every flaw in a car’s setup. That’s why so many performance automakers test there — and why Chevrolet’s achievement stands out.
This moment isn’t just for lap-time chasers or gearheads — it speaks to anyone who believes in the thrill of driving and the value of cars built with heart.
Editorial Extra: How the Corvettes Compare to Global Legends
Here’s where Chevrolet now ranks among Nürburgring royalty:
- #1 Mercedes AMG One – 6:29.090
- #2 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Manthey – 6:43.300
- #5 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X – 6:49.275
- #7 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 – 6:50.763
- #8 Ford Mustang GTD – 6:52.072
In other words: Chevrolet is no longer just chasing the European elite — it’s sitting right beside them.
Final Thoughts: Built in America, Proven in Germany
By blending American spirit with world-class execution, Chevrolet has created something rare: a car — and a brand — that speaks the universal language of speed, passion, and ingenuity. If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a car that was tested at the edge, by the very people who built it, the Z06, ZR1, and ZR1X are calling.
Learn more at www.chevrolet.com