The King of Corvettes, the ZR1, continues to live up to its name.

The Chevy’s top, track-course performance trim has shattered production car lap records at five of North America’s top racetracks, making it the quickest supercar in the U.S. market. With 1,064 horsepower, a twin-turbo V-8, 233 mph top speed, and 2.3-second 0-60 mph acceleration, the ZR1 set records at Watkins Glen, Road America, Road Atlanta and Virginia International Raceway (on two courses), with straightway speeds rivaling IndyCars that race at some of those same circuits.

At Road America in Wisconsin, for example, the ZR1 hit 188 mph on the front straight, on par with Chevy-powered IndyCars piloted by Team Penske drivers.
The Corvette’s ballistic acceleration helped it to obliterate the previous, 2.13.8-minute Road American lap record around the four-mile, 14-turn course set by Porsche’s track-focused 911 GT3 RS in 2023.
The ZR1’s time: an astonishing 2.08.6.

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

The records were achieved not by professional drivers, but by race-licensed Corvette engineers (Lead Vehicle Dynamics Engineer Brian Wallace set the Road America lap). Lap records at four other tracks include:

- Watkins Glen Long Course: 1:52.7 (Driver: Bill Wise, lead performance engineer, chassis controls)
- 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)

The records were all set in street-legal ‘Vettes equipped with (lightly) treated, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R ZP tires and the ZR1’s optional, high-downforce ZTK Performance Package, which includes a carbon-fiber high rear wing, front dive planes and a tall hood Gurney lip. The ZTK package also stiffens the suspension for better handling. Add slick racing tires, and the ZR1’s times would rival the IMSA Weathertech Corvette Z06 GT3.R race car, with which it shared development.

Last year pro driver Nick Catsburg put the Corvette Racing GT3.R racer on pole for the IMSA race with a qualifying lap record of 2 minutes, 2.2 minutes just over six seconds quicker than the luxurious, leather-throned ZR1 with its full interior infotainment and stereo system intact.
The 2:32.3 VIR Grand Course lap pipped the 3.34.9-minute record previously set by the $982,816 McLaren Senna a limited edition 2019 supercar based on McLaren’s Formula One technology.

The ZR1 retails at less than 1/5th the cost of the Senna, with a starting sticker of $174,995. Add the ZTK track pack and the price will push $200k.
The ZR1’s team of test drivers are all certified to lap the famed Nürburgring the epic, 13-mile German track that is the international standard for car performance and Chevy no doubt has its eyes set on that track record as well.
Orders for the 2025 ZR1 open later this month, and production is scheduled to begin at General Motors Co.'s Bowling Green Assembly plant in Kentucky in the second quarter of the year.