Back East in Virginia, they have been enduring the same type of temps and weather that we have, and are admittedly ready for the spring to come roaring in with a fervor. With its promise of better temps, budding trees, and roads without many weather issues, this is a time when cars that are able to really handle the track get popular. The Virginia International Speedway has long been a proving grounds for some of the best drivers in the nation, and has hosted high-octane events such as the Pirelli World Challenge, MotoAmerica Championship of Virginia, and Grassroots Motorsports Magazine sponsored Hyperfest Tire Rack Car Challenge. Recently chosen by Car and Driver Magazine as one of the top six road courses in the nation, it is the scene where many drivers attempt to set records, and really push their vehicles hard.
Last year, the Ford GT set a record for a production lap here, and all of us at Jim Butler are proud to say that our 2019 Corvette ZR1 completed the task of leaving that record in the dust! Driver Jim Mero was taking the 755-hp 6.2-liter supercharged V8 out for a very Earthshaking spin, and clocked a time of 2:37.25 for the 4.1-mile circuit. Beating out the GT's time by a razor-sharp 1.37 seconds, this is an achievement that everyone here at Jim Butler was very excited for. Both the Ford and the Chevy were cars of showroom spec grade, with no extra enhancements for performance.
The ZR1 did have the addition of the ZTK Performance Package, which offers summer-only tires, a tune for the suspension that is focused on track ability, and a downforce-producing aero kit. There are some rumors floating around that GM is hard at work developing another supercar, which may have the duty of ultimately replacing the 'Vette. Even if this does happen to be true, Road and Track were bowled over enough by the ZR1's performance that they heralded it as “the fastest street car GM has ever made”, and the absolute “True King of the Hill”. One characteristic that is notable to anyone during their first glace is the two gaping openings in front of the cover, that both work overtime to extrude the hot air which seeps from the engine bay.
This is also the very first dual-injection system put into use by GM, which definitely paves the way for production of 755 horsepower, 715 lb-ft of torque. Both versions of the ZR1's available rear wings are bolted down firmly to the chassis, bearing a bit of resemblance to the racing edition Corvette C7R. The claimed top speed is around 201 miles per hour in this quick pony, and the 355 section rear tires provide a sense of stability for handling on any type of track.
The ZR1 is also the car with the most carbon fiber inside of any GM vehicle, and any experienced driver will immediately notice the revolutionary ways in which weight is distributed. Since those who are masters on the track really love to detail every step of their progress, check out the Performance Data Recorder: it can log your every single move for later scrutiny, while you learn the finer points of mastering the demanding track!
