Automotive News, Media & Press - Corvette ZR-1 knocks four seconds off 'Ring time (autoblog)

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/28/corvette-zr-1-knocks-four-seconds-off-ring-time/

Back at the Nürburgring, the hot Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 has just ripped four seconds off its claimed 7:26 lap. The new time, with Jan Magnussen at the wheel, is a claimed 7:22.4 for the full 12.93-mile loop. While the number is pretty bloody fast, it is still .3 seconds off the time earned by the Dodge Viper ACR (ouch, those three tenths really have to hurt!). We take these lap times with a grain of salt, as we've yet to see everyone on the 73-turn course under the same conditions, and with officially certified timing equipment. Again, so you don't have to Google the competition's best-claimed Ring times yourself, here they are: Porsche GT2 - 7:32, Nissan GT-R - 7:29, Corvette ZR1 - 7:22.4 and the Dodge Viper ACR - 7:22.1.

Nice! Figured Jan would bring the times down a bit more.
-Joel

Ford now needs to step up its game to beat Nissans time :lol: :D

The scary part is, that Viper has a lot left in it as well. Good to see the ZR1 making some good times, but I'm over this Nürburgring stuff.

Ford now needs to step up its game to beat Nissans time :lol: :D

LOL, With What?


.3 seconds, that's like an any given sunday close, especially over 12 miles.

Great info ZR1 and ACR are two sick cars and very well built GTR should be compred to GT500 and new LS3 Camaro IMO.

LOL, With What?


.

LOL.... a not so yellow and much faster version of their GT-X1:

http://www.diseno-art.com/images_2/Ford_GTX1_angle.jpg

Whats the Ford GT's ring time?

not surprising at all. nice to hear some actual number tho. That viper is sick, thats for sure

4 seconds?? Thats a lot of time stripped of the original 7:26 lap.

In the 7:26 run there was a massive head wind on the back straight away. Maybe, the weather conditions were optimal for the 7:22 run.

4 seconds?? Thats a lot of time stripped of the original 7:26 lap.

In the 7:26 run there was a massive head wind on the back straight away. Maybe, the weather conditions were optimal for the 7:22 run.

They used a pro driver this time and not a GM engineer as they did with the 7:26 run.

i knew jan would best its previous time, and i'm sure he could do better than that. But the viper still has room for improvement as well. The zr1 is just more daily friendly than the track mannered acr

I will wait until this is made official to believe it. Who is Xeyad?

The scary part is, that Viper has a lot left in it as well. Good to see the ZR1 making some good times, but I'm over this Nürburgring stuff.

Dodge themselves stated that the acr had very little left in it and did not think they could break 7:20 without different gearing.

Dodge themselves stated that the acr had very little left in it and did not think they could break 7:20 without different gearing.

Add in the two miss-shifts, the constant rev limit riding and the strong head wind down the straight (like the original ZR1 lap time) and I'm sure they could get 7:1x's out of it. Down the straight, the guy rode the rev limiter like crazy in 4th gear.

Add in the two miss-shifts, the constant rev limit riding and the strong head wind down the straight (like the original ZR1 lap time) and I'm sure they could get 7:1x's out of it. Down the straight, the guy rode the rev limiter like crazy in 4th gear.

agreed, everyone that has watched the video of that acr with the record breaking time knows that it can do better

The two missed shifts might have added 1/2 a second. However, the rev limiter banging was on purpose! Do you really think a pro driver doesn't know how to up shift? Gearing optimized for the ring would probably make for faster lap times and less limiter banging but the acr doesn't come with those gears. Everyone seems to think that the acr could go faster cause of all the times the driver hit the limiter. Again, he hit the limiter on purpose to do the best he could with the gearing the acr has!

The scary part is, that Viper has a lot left in it as well. Good to see the ZR1 making some good times, but I'm over this Nürburgring stuff.:werd: That ZR1 is runnin' strong around that track but the Viper isn't done yet either I'd bet.
Both are disgustingly FAST cars. :drive: :nod:

The two missed shifts might have added 1/2 a second. However, the rev limiter banging was on purpose! Do you really think a pro driver doesn't know how to up shift? Gearing optimized for the ring would probably make for faster lap times and less limiter banging but the acr doesn't come with those gears. Everyone seems to think that the acr could go faster cause of all the times the driver hit the limiter. Again, he hit the limiter on purpose to do the best he could with the gearing the acr has!

we are not saying that he was hitting the rev limiter on accident. however, there were times when it was (like on that straight) and the missed shifts. No one is saying it could do 7:0X but it could definitely do a 7:1X. It's not like dodge spent 3 months on the track trying to get the best time ever like nissan.

Keep in mind the ACR was built for the track. It also has a front splitter spoiler which makes a huge difference on the track but is NOT street legal because it sticks out too far and does not meet the 5mph bumper requirements. Take that off when testing on Nürburgring and I bet you the lap time drops. The ZR1 is ready to rock and roll on the street right out of the factory. Personally I would rather the Viper because it just looks more badass than pretty much anything else on the road, but we all know the ACR is more of a track car than a street car. And the ZR1's suspension is going to be a lot more forgiving for normal street driving than the ACR.

Oh, and the ACR had non-stock race seat with a six-point harness, suspension alterations, aero adjustments, and was using Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Track & Competition DOT radials instead of the standard Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires. I am not sure if these are all options you can order out of the factory, and even if they are, it just shows you how much more the ACR was setup to run on the track when compared to the ZR1 on the Nürburgring track.

They are both awesome cars but it seems like we are comparing a race car to a street car. And although Jan Magnussen is a race car driver, he is also a GM factory driver.

Oh, and the ACR had non-stock race seat with a six-point harness, suspension alterations, aero adjustments, and was using Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Track & Competition DOT radials instead of the standard Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires. I am not sure if these are all options you can order out of the factory, and even if they are, it just shows you how much more the ACR was setup to run on the track when compared to the ZR1 on the Nürburgring track.

They are both awesome cars but it seems like we are comparing a race car to a street car. And although Jan Magnussen is a race car driver, he is also a GM factory driver.


not calling BS but do you have any links with this info? Especially the part on the tires (a lot of manufacturers do the race seat and harness just for saftey). But I haven't heard anything about the race tires and the part about the splitter, the car is street legal and does come with a splitter from the factory.

The front splitter comes in the back seat when an acr is delivered because it is not street legal. the cup sport tires are standard for the acr and street legal but are r compound. Many would argue they are fine for the street but, according to michelin they are not good street tires (due to wear, wet traction and that extended street driving will cause them to harden and become useless)

The front splitter comes in the back seat when an acr is delivered because it is not street legal. the cup sport tires are standard for the acr and street legal but are r compound. Many would argue they are fine for the street but, according to michelin they are not good street tires (due to wear, wet traction and that extended street driving will cause them to harden and become useless)

yes, I believe those tires are custom made for the viper. In no way am I arguing the streetability of an ACR, they are not meant for a daily drive or even a comfortable cruise. They are track cars that are street legal, is that what the zr1 was going for? No, the zr1 is supposed to be able to compete with or blow away the competition while maintaining a comfortable ride, which it does.

If the splitter came in the trunk, then I guess it came with the car so by my judgment its justified to run with it on the track. I understand you may disagree.

In the end, the top two cars on the track are both american and we can all appreciate that :usa:

I'm sure Dodge could put up a little more separation.

The ACR is a race car made to be a street car. The ZR1 is a street car made to be a race car.

The ACR is far more bare-bones, makes its power N/A, and has coilovers.

The ZR1 caters to creature comforts, makes power with a blower, and has leaf springs.

Apples and oranges that are both miles better than almost anything the rest of the world can offer, with reliability and engineering that blows the Nissan out of the water and price that blows the Krauts and Italians out of the water.

I wish Jan would drive the Maro SS on the Ring.

This is an amazing time...however; the ACR could really knock some time off.

W

Thanks for answering my questions slowscott. Now I don't have to type as much. :-D And I am not arguing about which car is better. Only simply stating the facts and what the cars where designed for and I think will82 put it nicely. And like I said before, I would still prefer the Viper if I could only have one of them. Mainly because of its looks. I love Vettes, but they have become very common and I see them all the time. The Z06 stands out to me because I know cars, but most people wouldn't have the slightest clue. And I am sure the ZR1 will also stand out once I see one in person, but it is extremely difficult to miss a Viper and it still gives me a boner.

The ZR1 caters to creature comforts, makes power with a blower, and has leaf springs.

Are you trying to imply the leaf springs are a bad thing?

Add in the two miss-shifts, the constant rev limit riding and the strong head wind down the straight (like the original ZR1 lap time) and I'm sure they could get 7:1x's out of it. Down the straight, the guy rode the rev limiter like crazy in 4th gear.

Hitting the rev limiter in some instances was done on purposes to save time

Hitting the rev limiter in some instances was done on purposes to save time

The funny thing is many people would rather believe the pro driver didn't know how to perform a simple up shift.

Hitting the rev limiter in some instances was done on purposes to save time

Obviously. I can see where shifting would have been counter-productive. There are a number of instances where he should have shifted, ESPECIALLY on the straight. From what I understand, the reason he didn't shift on the straight was because if he did then the head wind would have counter acted and slowed the vehicle down.

All I said was that the Viper has plenty left in it, that's a fact. Nothing to dispute there.

Carry on.

Obviously. I can see where shifting would have been counter-productive. There are a number of instances where he should have shifted, ESPECIALLY on the straight. From what I understand, the reason he didn't shift on the straight was because if he did then the head wind would have counter acted and slowed the vehicle down.

All I said was that the Viper has plenty left in it, that's a fact. Nothing to dispute there.

Carry on.

You just contradicted yourself. First you say he should have ESPECIALLY shifted on the straight, then you go on to say why it was advantageous for him not to. The huge amount of down force severely limits the acr's top end compared to the zr1 or gtr. There is no mention of a headwind in the article. Dodge themselves said they couldn't go any faster without making changes to the car (no longer stock). Direct quote from the srt engineer: "HAD WE SHORTENED THE GEARING and had more than a day to DEVELOP the car for the Nordshcleife, we probably could have dipped below 7:20, but we're very happy with our time, nonetheless." According to this, the acr does not have "plenty left in it" and there is nothing in the video other than 2 missed shifts (probably worth less than a second) that suggest a faster time is possible. Could the car have a lot left in it? Sure, but there is no evidence to suggest that is the case (only evidence to the contrary) and it is far from a fact.

First of all the driver is a driver for Zakspeed which campaigns the Vipers in Europe. He know the Ring very well and also knows the Viper since thats what he drives for a living. The reason he stayed in 4th is because 5th is very tall and slows down acceleration dramatically. So that is why Dodge said they would have to revise the gear ratios to go faster. Not to be rude but this guys is a pro....

You just contradicted yourself. First you say he should have ESPECIALLY shifted on the straight, then you go on to say why it was advantageous for him not to. The huge amount of down force severely limits the acr's top end compared to the zr1 or gtr. There is no mention of a headwind in the article. Dodge themselves said they couldn't go any faster without making changes to the car (no longer stock). Direct quote from the srt engineer: "HAD WE SHORTENED THE GEARING and had more than a day to DEVELOP the car for the Nordshcleife, we probably could have dipped below 7:20, but we're very happy with our time, nonetheless." According to this, the acr does not have "plenty left in it" and there is nothing in the video other than 2 missed shifts (probably worth less than a second) that suggest a faster time is possible. Could the car have a lot left in it? Sure, but there is no evidence to suggest that is the case (only evidence to the contrary) and it is far from a fact.

Rather than arguing with you over something so stupidly trivial, I'll just say you're right. Happy now? :eyes:

Rather than arguing with you over something so stupidly trivial, I'll just say you're right. Happy now? :eyes:

I'm just presenting the facts over something that yes is ultimately "stupidly trivial." Isn't that the point of car forums? Don't take it personally.