The Virginia International Speedway has long been a proving grounds of various sorts, and a firm East Coast anchor for the best in racing action. You can see events like the Pirelli World Challenge, MotoAmerica Championship of Virginia, and Grassroots Motorsports Magazine sponsored Hyperfest Tire Rack Car Challenge here to quell your thirst for high-octane excitement. Also the home of the Sportscar Club of America's “VA Spring Sprints” Motor Tour, it was recently chosen by Car and DriverMagazine as one of the top six road courses in the nation. Last year, the Ford GT Supercar set a production car lap record here, and this year, our beloved 2019 Corvette ZR1 completed the task of destroying that record!
Chevy was out on the track doing what they do best with company test driver Jim Mero, and the 755-hp 6.2-liter supercharged V8 clocked a time of 2:37.25 for the 4.1-mile circuit. Beating out the GT's time by 1.37 seconds, this is an achievement that all of us here at the Powerhouse were rooting for all along. Both the Chevy and Ford were cars of showroom spec grade, with no ultra-unique enhancements in the performance department. The ZR1 had the addition of the $2,995 ZTK Performance Package, which provides summer-only tires, a track-focused tune for the suspension, and a downforce-producing aero kit.
Rumor has it that GM is working on a mid-engine supercar that may have the duty of replacing the Corvette next year, due to some opinions that wonder if it has reached the limits of performance for a design incorporating the use of a front engine. Road And Track claimed excitedly that this is the “fastest street car GM has ever made”, and the absolute “True King of the Hill”. The two gaping openings in front of the cover work overtime to extrude the hot air pouring out of the engine bay, and the ZR1's new pushrod V8 features a 52-percent larger supercharger than the Z06's LT4. This is also GM's first dual-injection system, dutifully chiseling the way for production of 755 horsepower, and 715 lb-ft of torque.
The dry sump motor is also the home of Chevy's largest ever throttle bodies: they hold it down tightly at 95mm, as well as having an upgraded crankshaft with a key slot much wider. Both versions of the ZR1's available rear wings are bolted firmly to the chassis, bearing similarity to the racing edition Corvette C7R. The claimed top speed is around 201 miles per hour in this thing, and another huge difference in handling is the 355 section rear tires. There are also front wheels which are half an inch wider, and their open design makes for more rapid cooling within the brakes. We will be amazed to see just exactly what the car with the most carbon fiber GM has ever put in a vehicle handles like when put to the task, and options like the Performance Data Recorder can track your every move while you learn the ropes of mastering the winding track!
