Chevrolet Corvette returns to Nurburgring

Chevrolet Corvette returned to the world’s most-demanding testing ground – Germany’s famed Nurburgring – and recorded lap times that rank among the fastest recorded for a production car.

The 2012 Corvette ZR1 recorded a lap time of 7:19.63, more than six seconds faster than the previous Corvette-best recorded in 2008.

”Testing at the Nurburgring is one of the important methods we have to validate our car in the toughest track conditions.” says Tadge Juechter, Corvette vehicle line director and chief engineer.

Measuring 20.8 km and including some 154 turns, the Nurburgring’s Nordschleife (north loop) is widely considered the world’s most-demanding course. As was the case at Corvette’s last test in 2008, the car was driven by Corvette engineer Jim Mero and was a full production model with no performance modifications. This test was to validate the car’s added performance technology coming to production later this summer for the 2012 model year.

Corvette’s improved  performance for 2012 begins with the new, optional Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Zero Pressure tires, which are available on the two highest-performing models, the lightweight, 505-hp (377 kW) Z06 and the maximum-performance, 638-hp (476 kW) supercharged ZR1. They are competition-oriented tires, optimized for warm, dry conditions to increase cornering and handling capability.

When combined with the Corvette’s exclusive Performance Traction Management (PTM) technology – which manages torque delivery for maximum performance – the tires set new benchmarks for Corvette performance. Engineers estimate an 8-percent gain in maximum lateral acceleration, to more than 1.1g, and improved braking distance.