Chevrolet’s Performance Data Recorder is the Key to Faster Lap Times

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2019 Corvette may not have the latest safety tech, but it does have what enthusiasts care about, like the Performance Data Recorder.

The 2019 Corvette may not be any different than its 2018 predecessor, but there’s no harm in that. The C7 is a damn fine sports car. However, as Roadshow host Emme Hall notes, the C7 does feel dated, especially in the technology department. There’s no adaptive cruise control, automatic collision-avoidance braking, or any of those other acronyms that manufacturers put into new cars that we all immediately forget about.

However, that’s no matter, Hall contends, because the C7 does have one crucial piece of tech that most others lack: the Performance Data Recorder. According to Hall, the C7 PDR uses a front-facing camera to “record all of your antics,” which can then be transposed with various data points to tell the bigger picture of what’s happening through the corners.

With information available on throttle application, braking, cornering G, steering angle, speed and RPM, there is a lot to process. Of course, Hall contends, this is all valuable information to show areas on the race track where drivers may be leaving time on the table. Hall says that, beyond just looking at the data at a surface level, having the ability to process the data through through Cosworth-supplied race software. This offers a more granular, in-depth perspective on what is happening to your car on the race track, through each corner, lap after lap.

An $1,800 standalone option on all Corvettes, it’s one option box that, Hall says, must be ticked.

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Jake Stumph is a lifelong car enthusiast and racer, and former content editor for Internet Brands Automotive which he joined in 2015. His work has been featured by several other prominent automotive outlets, including Jalopnik and Autobytel.

He obtained a bachelor's degree in Political Science at the Ohio State University in 2013, then pivoted from covering politics and policy to writing about his automotive adventures, something that, he says, is a lot more fun. Since that time, he has established connections with most of the world's major automakers, as well as other key brands in the automotive industry.

He enjoys track days, drifting, and autocross, at least, when his cars are running right, which is uncommon.


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