ZR1 Nurburgring Official

The Corvette ZR1 making its GTR crushing Nurburgring blast of 7:26.4 driven by Jim Mero on June 27th 2008.
-Garage419
Thank you GMnext.com!!

[@vladispassov]

I am an engineer. My job is to create things that are as functional, as beautiful, as durable, as reliable, as light and as cheap as possible. So there is a very delicate balance between all these criteria and, apparently, the people from Kentucky have found it while designing and building the ZR1. My hat is down to them.

[@TheKing-pr9sb]

10 seconds faster than the 458 at one third of the price congratulations Chevy 👏

[@mioszk504]

Really? Wtf its enormous difference

[@SwissMarksman]

@Ethan Weeter Not anymore. The new C8 is as much as an used 458 nowadays.

[@mariopaniagua2609]

@Ethan Weeter a c6 zr1 was over 100k new. Google it

[@318ci]

@@mariopaniagua2609 well the 458 was like 300k when it was new 🤭

[@bedd8934]

@@SwissMarksman and the c8 is still faster lmao.

[@rob7486]

Dude your totally right man, every turn the tires are screaching riding the edge of the zr1's ability to grip. I have always read or heard that the corvette takes mad skill and is a drivers car, some cars will handle some challenges for you but the zr1 requires mad skill to drive like this guy. Big ups to this guy, stone cold beast.

[@force52xxxx]

Personally in my experience I think the corvette is hands down one of the best handling cars, the driver experience is truly amazing and if your a decent enough driver, have good throttle control watching the rpm’s and basically lugging the vette thru the corners, it just responds so well, point and shoot kind of feel! As for the tires screeching, most would when your pushing 100mph thru corners 🙏 as for this video, A superior handling car paired with this phenomenal drive= full bald eagles

[@syty747]

"it uses leaf springs" every time i hear this argument i laugh, it uses TRAVERSE leaf springs, which is a very appropriate design for racing.

[@incargeek]

So does my Volvo!

[@aaronbradley4361]

This thing sounds like a nascar cup car. This guy is the real deal he stays in it several times when the car goes a little crazy on him

[@goldenmanuever1176]

@Reaper5.56 Xx Jim Mero is retired and while he was a chassis and suspension engineer for GM, he actually is a professional driver.

[@Handgun777]

Ethan Weeter I think so. Even if it were Streets, there’s better tyres nowadays(like Michellin’s for example).

[@KevAlberta]

I remember when this video came out. I still think it’s my favorite corvette to this day

[@jessemess7598]

Kev yea this vette is literally insane, it pulls so dam hard,it’s engine is a demons heart

[@Dawnseeker2000]

Jim Mero really is an incredible driver. He is very relaxed behind the wheel and makes close to zero mistakes. I'm fairly certain that, with more time, he could have a lap between 7:20 and 7:25. I've seen other onboard videos showing much faster laps, but this one is more satisfying to watch.

[@McLacBlack]

Dude, he was all over the road. This car could have done way better with a better driver....

[@gzt967]

I've turned this video into an MP3, and listen to it as I fall asleep every night.

[@1AAuto]

This track would be an absolute blast to drive. Great video.

[@JULESRULES9969]

I love how he gets pissed when he looses traction a bit. 6:30

[@Thumpr110]

This guys a phenomenal driver...I'm impressed with how well he's able to translate that much power

[@rw895]

Just when you think you can drive..........

[@2010NOK]

It's amazing how truly fast this car gets up to speed. I think what's even more amazing Is how fast he brakes down from 179mph off that last straight away...Damnnnnn!!!

[@xXAcrobatixX]

damn that guy is fast.

[@daddymagnum1875]

So is the car

[@klimacs]

Shifting into sixth at 175mph! Love it!

[@timteevin4517]

Casual too. One hand on the wheel.

[@WoodLard]

i love how i recognize every turn in the track because of forza :D

[@darrellcoy]

Awesome lap, that driver has some BALLS. I'd give mine to race a Vette on the ring. GTR is cool and all but just how do you beat the feel of throwing the shifter, hearing the roar, and seeing the barriers blur by? You can't....... Vette all the way.

[@peas1337]

more balls with porsche evo 919

[@joecliman2183]

GTR fanboys: go away. The GTR is a good car, so is the ZR1. They're also wildly different. If you can't see why someone might choose the ZR1 over a GTR, you're not a real enthusiast. Think about how ridiculous you sound hating on a fiberglass, RWD sportscar with a 640hp supercharged V8 and manual transmission. Get off your weird moral high horses and realize that value for money isn't only measured in performance figures.

[@jeffufcfanaticrosenberg]

I driven both of them and stock I like the zr1 better. the GTR doesn't have a hot and the speedometer is really jacked up they really need to update the interior plus the turbo lag sucks now it is a very fast car from 1st. again was kind of disappointed with it though because the interiors a little bit dated. honestly I would take the zr1 over the GTR.

[@deeremeyer1753]

If a modern electronically-fuel injected turbocharged vehicle has "turbo lag" its the driver, not the vehicle. You keep a turbo "spooled" so it's not starting over from scratch at an engine speed too low to produce the exhaust volume next to spool it rapidly. An you don't wind a turbocharged engine out to the limit before shifting gears. You upshift when acceleration starts to fall off because that's the volumetric efficiency limit of the engine is reached and the upshift should put the engine back in its sweet spot so the load and residual turbo speed and exhaust gas volume are sufficient to bring the turbo right back online again. Overall, since a turbo can not "lag" and is ALWAYS spinning and required exhaust gas energy to accelerate and pump larger and larger amounts of air to a higher and higher level, most "turbo lag" is the driver not being smart enough to use the turbo or thinking the turbo is the only thing that makes power and that "boost = power" automatically. It doesn't. Boost doesn't make power until its sufficient to charge the cylinders with additional air and/or fuel sufficient to produce enough extra exhaust gas energy to first drive the turbo, second overcome the RESTRICTION the turbo and coolers are on the intake airflow, overcome the EXHAUST restriction they add and THEN finally begin making a net power increase. The other situation is when a turbo is mismatched to the engine and vehicle and operating conditions and that usually means TOO BIG. A smaller turbo that spools and reacts quickly will make more USABLE power than one too large and hard to spool unless everything is just right every time.

[@Rushenboy35]

DEEREMEYER1 Wow you are very smart

[@CornFedZ06]

@@deeremeyer1753 He meant "boost threshold"

[@rob7486]

I didnt think that the gr could hang with the zr1, I thought it could hang with the zo6....

[@vegaman72]

My favorite Nurburgring lap of all time, hats off to Jim Mero!

[@genericdenizen1]

Love my Corvette and its MANUAL TRANSMISSION.

[@fabriquenacionaleofpain6359]

That's a real driving machine... Manual transmission!

[@jimihendriixx]

Nothing like bangin gears💪🏼🕹

[@roshanjay7]

Impressive stability under braking in cambered corners and over crests and bumps, progressive straightline and cornering grip loss control including during sharp turn ins, excellent high-speed downforce to go flat out on the back straight, all without track wings splitters winglets etc just mechanical grip and clean body aero, also manual gearbox and rwd which maximises driver skill, probably could have gone 7.20 without errors, great car.

[@JAFO.]

The main thing I notice is how well-behaved is the rear end. I started out with a Porsche in 1978 and have been enjoying driving ever since and here you see a machine you can ''Drift'' around Nuremberg and still beat most other production cars costing several times the price, and have fun while you're doing it.

[@marty5300]

Geez.. that track is scary enough as it is, and this dude is flying around it. Some seriously impressive driving

[@Fickoch]

I just took a turn @ 177 mph on undulating hilly surfaces in a GM vehicle. Crazy? … naaaah.

[@lilsins656]

At least it it didn’t hit a crowd like a mustang

[@sfletch9535]

He shat his pants at 1:58

[@blackdeath4eternity]

think your speaking of yourself.... they just kept going.

[@TotalNinjaLover]

I def shat mine just watching it 😂

[@C6SuperchargedZR1]

That was a very predictable, linear yaw reaction from the car. Actually quite easy to manage if you have the skills and good knowledge of the car.

[@GixxerRider1982]

Still one of the baddest cars to hit that ring. Loved putting my M3 on the ring. Never forget that experience.

[@DEaN0886]

If I ever have trouble sleeping, I visualise doing a lap at this track. I never make it to the end but have great dreams 😆

[@theblacksorrow]

7:19.63 Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 (2012)

[@eddieyakin7173]

Master Yoda yeah it seems weird to me because this guy got basically the same score with a c6 zo6

[@aryaahmadi4029]

At 6:31,the driver is like Holy Shit that was close!

[@RetroGamerr1991]

Arya Ahmadi Nah he was more like "Fuck that slide cost me time". He was nowhere near the limits of his ability around that corner.

[@letigidou2052]

Yeah he's pissed , probably more pissed as it was near the end of the lap. Making a mistake on a 7 minute lap pisses you off more than on a 90 seconds track.

[@aryaahmadi4029]

+Le Tigidou DUDE! Ikr. the moment when I spin out at the last carousel after my thirtieth attempt trying to perform a clean hot lap .... I just wanna throw the joystick at my screen. and scream lol

[@RetroGamerr1991]

Arya Ahmadi Every time my car pushes wide through the carousel I want to rage quit lmao.

[@aryaahmadi4029]

+RetroGamerr1991 haha, Is that in real life or in Grand Turismo?

[@pontiffsulyvahn9527]

This machine Comes from another planet.. what a Melody.

[@ScaleCrawling]

I love the way this car handles. What a wonderful car. ❤

[@Bonneville2482]

I say fuck taking corners at those speeds

[@kaylaraines3988]

bad ass driver and car

[@sbinnala]

I’ll never forgive Matt for saying this isn’t a supercar. It is. Period.

[@tarkuk]

After having learned this course in GranTourismo and Forza, watching this video gives me goosebumps because this guy has no frikkin' fear at all.

[@almas09]

Nissan GT-R Nismo by Micheal Krumm time of 7:08:69. I'm not hating on this car, its still a great lap, great car too, kudos to the driver.

[@vgamesloja]

wait the new z06

[@almas09]

I shall wait and see how it does.

[@chek1n]

almas09 I don't expect it to be much better, they've only adopted more of the GT's version's designs and equipment. Maybe it might be about 3 or 6 seconds better at most.

[@eugenehvorostyanov2409]

Fake record. It was modified car. Cheaters.

[@V8_Diva]

7 hours?

[@james4749]

America!

[@FormulaKimball]

Amazing, and one of the few vids that capture a sense of the elevation changes, some of those corners are incredibly steep!

[@Kando0615]

Love the Nurb, probably the best track! So rough and swirly. And this guy...WOW! constantly on the edge. Excellent!

[@STEVEN7654321]

This is the record for Corvette just make the statement correct, because the actual record time is 6:11 in a real car Porsche 956

[@mattedwards6858]

If you're going to correct others then make sure that YOU note that the record you are quoting is not on a street legal car, on a different variant of the track, and with different track regulations.

[@STEVEN7654321]

And I assume You are the official Track Time keeper. I guess that Corvette has to make up its own track regulations to have a record. If you want to correct someone maybe You are the one that has to do the research. Google Track records, and then go visite the Ring in person, I, contrary to other people have lived there and raced on that track.

[@pmsids]

Uhmmm guys Nismo GTR ....uhmmm welll

[@oldschooldude8370]

This guy used a modified seat with cutout and a soft, plush pillow below to support his massive balls. Coming into turns at 175 and revmatching to perfection down to 110 is the masterful part.

[@ScaleCrawling]

Perfect handling! Love it!

[@robertwilsoniii2048]

Looking good. Admirable for the budget friendly corvette. We all know what we really want is a Huracan Performante, but this car emulates the Lamborghini driving experience pretty well, which was the whole point of the corvette to begin with. GM made it to do that. Even tge Zr1 is too pricy, but a grand sport can be built into a DIY zr1. All it needs is a procharger, the zr1 calipers and a good aftermarket sport set of shocks (from Koni or Penske) and nice set of sway bars. All that can be had for $50,000 these days on the used market for a low mileage c6 as a base.

[@jdmlajdm]

still can't believe that this is about as fast as an enzo, mc12, carrera gt and zonda around here

[@nateellis9243]

If I knew this guy personally and anytime we went on a drive he’s got the keys 100% of the time dudes a Legend

[@justindeus3899]

This guy can drive. And this car has amazing performance.

[@ToadLore]

Never has a car been disrespected more than a corvette. And never has a car done more to shut up haters than a corvette.

[@timteevin4517]

Great ride. 👍 Both, the car and the guy behind the wheel.

[@SupercarsGT]

Fantastic lap with a great car and great driver.i love this circuit

[@superdriver777]

The sound of the shifts in this car....they remind me of why I love cars so much! Like the one at 1:00 :drool: And the driver....hats off to Jim Mero. A full lap of the 'Ring where you basically never go below 60mph, let alone in a base-model Corvette, makes you a legend in my book

[@KevAlberta]

This isn’t a base model corvette. It was the fastest c6 you could buy off the floor. It’s the zr1 with a 6.2l supercharged v8 making 638hp and a top speed over 200mph. This is not your base model corvette. Lol

[@justinbritt5116]

This is the greatest, most awesome Corvette video ever!

[@xiaoyu88]

The car is actually going slower due to the size of his balls. 99% of the time it kept on the edge. After my visit there I can only appreciate how insane this is. Unreal.

[@griffielliott279]

ive been watching this for 15 mins straight!!! this car have that sweet sound i just love it

[@IROC-Z28]

I can feel my testosterone level rising

[@SStarwind]

took a giant leap forward for readily available production sports cars in America, and smashed the European competition on Nürburgring lap times, cost of maintenance, and show-room floor price tag. I know a lot of people who were displeased because the ZR1 had a smaller, supercharged V8 compared to the massive block in the Z06, completely disregarding the notion that the ZR1 is faster than a car that Farrari liked so much they named it after the company founder and THAT is a bold statement.

[@user-Vadimych]

Три раза пересмотрел. Афигеть. Мне даже через экран смартфона в туалет захотелось. Мужик за рулём прям мужик!

[@tverrenkamp]

WOW! I am, generally, not a great fan of American cars. There are a couple of stand outs and this car is certainly one of those! This driver is truly of stellar capability and has driven this car to the absolute limit. Normally, on this particular track, you don't hear anywhere near as much tire screeching. Here we see the driver wringing every single ounce of performance out of the car and getting an amazing result on the clock! A WIN for American cars!

[@LeprousSoul]

Awesome video and great driving! Couldn't care less about the 'Vette vs. GTR debate -- I'd take either one of them in a heartbeat.

[@guillaumesandmayer7053]

Jimmo! Mate. That means this thing would still run a dead rat flat time of 8 minutes for us mere mortals. That's still the benchmark for crapping one's pants around the Green hellish 'Ring..

[@paulsalmon4771]

I want to see Jim Mero drive the new ZR1 just to see the improvement.He's one bad ass driver

[@Flaaaaanders]

Nice driving, on the edge of control.

[@markssite]

i watched just for the back straight but didnt skip a single second.

[@matthewhenry8008]

Love this video, the driver had that vette' singing.

[@tyman3331]

I love this track, it's tremendously difficult but great!

[@derbigpr500]

Also, note that this lap was not done on normal road tires. It was done on special Michelin soft compound tires made especially for Corvette and for usage on tracks in dry conditions, and it shaves off 10-15 seconds a lap. Find the other version of this video which has a G-meter on it, and you'll see that the car pulls 1,7G lateral in some corners, as oppose to 1,1-1,3G possible with usual high performance tires. Those tires are basically useless in any conditions other than a dry track.

[@WoahSalmo]

can't tell you how many times I have driven this in simulation... this is definitely on my bucket list

[@McFly2015AD]

@geterdonein01 The frame is magnesium and aluminum and the body panels are carbon fiber. The only bits of plastic is the front nose, interior and rear clip which Clarkson points out on Top Gear

[@MrAlpina786]

Music to my ears, Hats off to the Driver

[@RossEnzo]

Dude....that was.....life changing stuff right there.

[@cuvkiller]

Oh, I'm sorry, I thought "Muscle cars are only good for straight lines, and when you hit a turn, you're done." I hate people who say this because do they think muscle cars have no brakes? What do you have to say now, this is a muscle car, and holds one of the fastest times on this track.

[@dirtbikemike69]

This car is the reason for believing in our American auto industry... it can happen. I never realized how many sharp humps there are on this track. He's practically catching air half the time.

[@Johnman3341]

The Corvette is awesome because it competes with cars that cost 2,3 or even 4 times as much as it. Most have less features, like no radio, AC, power windows. Stuff like that. The Corvette ZR1 is a monster.

[@Muddimar]

Controlled chaos right there. Sheesh, I can't imagine driving that course.

[@billcochran2850]

Would love to see that somewhere . Can't find anything on the GTR better then a 7:38 but did see this on the vette The 2012 Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 was tested at the Nürburgring Nordschleife by Jim Mero on June 9, 2011. It was a base specification car with optional super-slick DOT track competition tires (Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Zero Pressure) and non-stock safety equipment. It recorded a time of 7:19.63 (Video confirmed), the 5th-best time ever for a production vehicle

[@maxskullic9879]

If I was born into money, Id had mastered that track! Sadly I was born into being disabled and never got the chance to prove my driving skills I gained from driving the back roads of east Tn. I was racing on the "tail of the dragon" when I was 16.... In a Chevy G20 Cargo Van!

[@qwezxc23456]

What kind of disability you have ?

[@imserious2187]

Hell of a driver 💪🏾

[@donniemarks94]

Man europe has all the best tracks even the public roads are awesome but we in america have some great tracks to and i love how the corvette is one of the fastest cars around the ring for its class and even higher

[@CTSV4MEE]

Viper just broke the record again... The ACR lapped the ring in 7 minutes and 12 seconds!!! The ACR-X (not street legal) lapped it in 7 minutes and 4 seconds! America for the win!!!!

[@ianmiscool6969]

Hey, America here. The only good performance car we offer is the Corvette.

[@f0st3rch1ld]

That corvette is scary as shit to drive that fast... That is some very very experienced driving mixed with one hell of a machine....

[@Vette156]

The Corvette has had an independent rear suspension since 1984, C4 was a 4 link, C5 and C6 are SLA.

[@Sharony1994]

i cant even get a time like that in a video game with 1000hp cars props to the driver amazing

[@selektaman9099]

Pffffff, with that old Vette, the driver is absolutely hats off!

[@jessemess7598]

Selekta Man it’s a fecking zr1 for Christ’s sake that thing is still considered very fast

[@SerdaJ2]

@tverrenkamp Thing is this guy isn't even a pro driver. He is the engineer that helped design it. He even admits, and you can clearly see, he botches several corners. That car has probably a 7:24 flat in it with a proper driver behind the wheel. I am a Ford guy, but fuckinay! Well done GM. Well done, indeed.

[@177SCmaro]

Good move. And yeah, the ZR1 is a thing of beauty. Hard to beat it's performance for the price.

[@vision40]

My Friend - "I have driven this track about 1,000 times in video games. However, nothing prepares you for actually driving it. The elevation changes, the other cars, it's all so different." You might think you know it, but being on this track is a whole different story. I shotgun yesterday around the ring and it was one of the most scary, but amazing experiences of my life.

[@1181darkfire]

As perfect as this video is, I think the one little mistake he made was probably the best part of it. At 6:30 in this video he goes into a left hand corner but realizes the car doesn’t have enough traction and was gonna run off the track but somehow due to his second nature, fast response, and insane car control he saves it with just a bit of counter steer.

[@PerformanceY]

WAw! That's fast!!! Usually people count time from bridge to bridge. But is is a full lap!!! 7:26 OMG THATS FAST!!!

[@ghuk1]

@JellyBird12 The Radical SR8 which set the laptime was picked up from the factory in Peterborough. It was then driven to the channel, through France and Germany (thats 3 countries just in case you cant count) to the Nurburgring circuit where it set the laptime on the same set of tyres it used for the 450 mile trek. The lap is officially recognised by the Nurburgring circuit as the fastest lap by a road legal car. End of story.......

[@sultanselim77]

I've never been to Germany, but I know every corner of this track like the back of my hand.. GT5 Forever!

[@derekrunyan983]

Looked like a perfect run to me. Only one turn where he lost grip and slid a little more than it should but it was so miniscule. Looked like he threw his hand up in frustration

[@potatogirlcultist19]

1:08 Jesus that's terrifying. Landing on the front wheels is a code brown moment in a rally car. In a sports car designed to stay on the ground at well over 200 km/h... Straight out of a horror movie.

[@333pg333]

Exactly. Couldn't agree more. Hence I felt comfortable voicing mine.

[@solomonsignet]

very impressive..the new corvette is a beast of a car. great car on a great track!

[@nolan83]

The Viper is basically a full on race car with no stereo, climate control, etc. vs. the ZR1 with navigation, power everything, and A/C. I'd buy the Corvette any day.

[@ccubsfan94]

holy shit. i have my good headphones on and the intro scared the shit out of me.

[@OgamiItto70]

"US brands have long traditions for touring the US tracks 'benchmarking' cars with race crews and modifications for publicity stunts." Right. And carmakers from other countries would NEVER even THINK of doing THAT!

[@junktoyota]

Time speaks for itself; enough said.