How long will Chevy retain its record?
Team Chevrolet is still basking in the glory of setting a new record for American cars around the Nürburgring. Both the Corvette ZR1 and ZR1X finished the 12.9-mile lap in under seven minutes, and in doing so, both these Corvettes shattered the American record held by the Ford Mustang GTD. Ford CEO Jim Farley was quick to congratulate Chevy on its accomplishment, but he more than hinted at a response from Ford.
Is The Mustang GTD Heading Back To The Green Hell?
Ford Mustang GTD lapping the Nurburgring.
Ford
Earlier this year, the Ford Mustang GTD set a lap time of 6:52.072 minutes around the Green Hell, shaving five seconds off an earlier attempt by another GTD. This second attempt was so much better due to more favorable weather conditions, since the GTD’s original 2024 lap took place in damp, warmer-than-expected conditions.
But the GTD only had a few months to enjoy these bragging rights before the Corvette twins stormed in. This week, Chevy confirmed a time of 06:49.275 minutes for the ZR1X and 06:50.763 for the ZR1, both beating the GTD.
On Instagram, Chevy quipped: “Corvette fans—we got ‘em.” Farley replied to this post to say, “Congrats to the Corvette team. Game on!”
That suggests that Ford will return to the Nürburgring in an attempt to reclaim its record, but it would need to be around three seconds quicker than before.
Corvette Is Still The Ultimate Performance Bargain
Corvette Z06, ZR1 and ZR1X (back to front) at the Nürburgring Nordschleife racetrack in Germany. Closed course.
While the ZR1X is the ultimate Corvette C8, the ZR1’s achievement should not be underestimated. It was faster around the Green Hell than than the GTD despite being driven by a Chevy engineer and not a professional racecar driver. And, at $173,300, the ZR1 is a whole $145,460 cheaper than the Mustang GTD.
In the GTD’s most recent track run, Ford adjusted the car’s drag reduction system, powertrain, suspension, and ABS to further improve its lap time. It’s hard to see what else can be done to squeeze a better time from the Ford, but Farley seems up for the challenge. Over at Chevy, it could feasibly return for another go with a pro driver, and this single change alone could see it attain a time closer to the all-time leader, the Mercedes-AMG One.
Corvette development engineers and engineers from Michelin pictured with the Corvette Z06, ZR1 and ZR1X (pictured left to right).
Chevrolet
While a faster lap time alone doesn’t make one car greater than the other, both companies understand the value of such records for their top performance models. They create a sense of awe and admiration in the minds of enthusiasts, even if a two-second faster lap has little relevance on normal roads and in the hands of the average customer.
We look forward to seeing what the next chapter of the Nürburgring war holds between Chevrolet and Ford, especially since an even more extreme Corvette is being considered.
Related: Chevy’s Hardcore ZR1X Isn’t The End Of The Corvette C8 Story
