Corvette ZR1 Smashes Five Lap Records

February 11, 2025

The 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 isn’t just fast—it’s record-breaking. Over a track tour across the U.S., this high-performance machine set five new production car lap records with four different General Motors engineers behind the wheel.

Let’s break down the insane speed and engineering that make the ZR1 the car to beat.

Five Tracks, Five Records

With a pre-production ZR1 equipped with the optional ZTK Performance Package, the GM team took on some of the most demanding tracks in the country. The results? A clean sweep of record-setting lap times:

Watkins Glen Long Course: 1:52.7 – Driver: Bill Wise, Lead Performance Engineer, Chassis Controls.
Road America: 2:08.6 – Driver: Brian Wallace, Lead Vehicle Dynamics Engineer.
Road Atlanta: 1:22.8 – Driver: Chris Barber, Lead Development Engineer.
Virginia International Raceway (Full Course): 1:47.7 – Driver: Aaron Link, Global Vehicle Performance Manager.
Virginia International Raceway (Grand Course): 2:32.3 – Driver: Aaron Link.

Each of these times showcases not just the ZR1’s sheer speed, but also its ability to handle extreme performance conditions under different driving styles.

What Makes the 2025 Corvette ZR1 So Fast?

The ZTK Performance Package is a key ingredient in the ZR1’s dominance. This package adds:

A high-downforce carbon fiber rear wing and front dive planes
Underbody strakes to boost front downforce
Stiffer suspension tuning
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R ZP tires for ultimate grip

All these elements work together to deliver a car that’s as aerodynamic as it is powerful.

Powered by 1,064 Horses

Under the hood, the 2025 Corvette ZR1 is packing serious muscle:

1,064 horsepower from a twin-turbocharged 5.5L V8
0-60 mph in just 2.3 seconds
Quarter-mile time of 9.6 seconds
Top speed of 233 mph

For reference, no other production car under $1 million can touch these numbers.

A Team of Elite Drivers

It’s not just the car that’s impressive—the drivers behind the wheel brought a combined 65 years of GM Level 6 driving experience. Each of them is Nürburgring Industry Pool-certified, ensuring they can push the ZR1 to its absolute limits.

“Corvette ZR1 continues to showcase how this nameplate elevates at every corner,” said Tony Roma, Corvette Executive Chief Engineer. “From design, engineering, development, validation, to driving and setting incredible lap records like these – we do it all in house.”

Pricing and Availability

If you want to get your hands on this track weapon, pricing starts at $174,995 for the 1LZ coupe and $184,995 for the 1LZ hardtop convertible.

Production begins in Q2 2025 at GM’s Bowling Green Assembly plant in Kentucky.
Orders open later this month, so speed enthusiasts should be ready to act fast.

Final Thoughts on the 2025 Corvette ZR1

With five lap records under its belt and mind-blowing performance specs, the 2025 Corvette ZR1 is set to redefine what’s possible for a production car. Whether on the road or the racetrack, it’s a true powerhouse that delivers raw speed, precision handling, and cutting-edge aerodynamics.