by Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 at the Nürburgring: Expert Believes There is Room for Improvement
The Nürburgring is a place where the limits of both cars and drivers are tested. Misha Haroudin, an expert of this track, believes the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 could have posted a better time if a professional racer had been behind the wheel. He explains that the GM engineers who drove the car during testing were more cautious on corner exits, which affected the overall result.
Chevrolet recently published the results: the Z06 posted a 7:11.826, the ZR1 a 6:50.763, and the ZR1X a 6:49.275. Both versions outpaced the Mustang GTD but fell short of the Porsche 911 GT2 RS’s time of 6:43.3. Haroudin believes that with an experienced pilot, the ZR1 could shave off another 10 seconds, which would place it second only to the Mercedes-AMG One.
Why Could the Time Have Been Better?
In his analysis, Haroudin notes that the GM drivers did not use the full width of the track, especially on corner exits. This resulted in lower speeds on the straight sections. Furthermore, he emphasizes that cars like the ZR1 or a tuned Porsche from RM might not be able to post identical results back-to-back due to overheating of brakes, tires, or the engine.
These results are merely an indicator of potential at the limit of capabilities, not a guarantee of consistent performance in real-world conditions. Even the fastest cars require time to cool down between attempts.
Recent events at the Nürburgring show that the battle for leadership among supercars remains intense. Engineers are constantly seeking ways to improve aerodynamics, braking systems, and handling, but without the experience of professional drivers, the full potential remains unrealized.
