four0nefive

Car and Driver released their results from Lighting Lap for this year. Among the competitors: ZR1, GT2 RS, 720S, Ford GT.

I'll link the full article, but here's how the ZR1 did compared to other cars at VIR (Grand East Course):

• Porsche 911 GT2 RS (w/ Weissach Package): 2:37.8
• Chevy Corvette ZR1 (ZTK, A8): 2:39.5
• McLaren 720S: 2.39.7
• Lamborghini Huracan Performante: 2:44.0
• Ford GT: 2:45.5

Not a bad showing for the ZR1 at all. Its crazy to see that it was nearly 5 seconds faster than a Performante and 6 seconds ahead of the Ford GT. Also for reference, that makes it .5 seconds faster than the ACR (2:40.02 and driven by Chris Winkler, C&D ran a 2:44.20 when they tested it last year), and almost 2 seconds faster than the Z06 in C&D's hands (2:41.32).

It's also interesting to note that the ZR1, GT2 RS, and 720S are the first 3 cars to ever break the 2:40 range at VIR during a Lighting Lap test.

Full Article: https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...tning-lap-2018

racerns

Actually Jim Mero turned a 2:37.25, so that would be more comparable to Chris Winkler's 2:40 so a ~3 sec difference with factory drivers. Also the very small time difference between the ZR1 and the 720 mirrors Poor-sha's results with his friends 720. All I have to say about the GT2RS is Cup 2 R tires.

four0nefive

I forgot what time Mero ran (I looked on Fastestlaps.com and didn't see it and was too lazy to keep looking), so thank you for adding that. But still not bad for the ZR1.

I wish they made Cup 2 R tires for the ZR1. I feel like it would benefit a decent amount from them.

serpent

While were at it the 720s is on Corsa tires, so tires not up to snuff compared to Cup2s on the ZR1 or Cup2R on the GT2RS.

The GM cars have always done well on VIR. But other tracks they seem to normalize. Case in point, Laguna Seca. The 720S is a straight line monster yet its ahead by 2 seconds compared to the ZR1. Again, on corsa tires. Maybe they are saving track specific tires for the LT version of the 720.

racerns

Reading the article it looks like they had Jim Mero on site to coach them on driving the ZR1 this time. I will say this is the closest I have seen C&D get to Mero's Vette times at VIR. The other interesting note was that Jim told them they really only had one lap to get the max grip from the Cup 2s at the temps (approaching 90s) they were running. They also hit 164 mph on the front straight which is still a good 6 mph off what Mero hit but still a good bit more than Poor-sha, so maybe it is the A8 that is the difference.

the professor

I wish the mags would time this better so that we don't end up with so much great material in one week. Thank you for posting, I look forward to reading this!

Separate article (they have a few posted) just for the ZR1 here: https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...tning-lap-2018


That car looks so good in Torch Red! It is an automatic just like the Motor Trend car; I hope we can get some M7 times before all of the focus shifts to the ME car.

racerns

It will be interesting to see how the ZR1 fairs at the R&T comparo. I hate to say this, because I am a big fan, but the 2 poor showings for the ZR1 (LS and Big Willow) have one thing in common and that it Randy Pobst. Maybe there is something about the car that makes him uncomfortable? Also the ZR1 should shine more on tracks that have high speed turns that really allow it to use its aero and power.

64drvr

serpent

Something seems off if the Ford GT and Performante is 5 seconds behind. I checked the fastest laps comparing the ZR1 and Performante and all other tracks they have done laps on, the performante is 1-2 seconds ahead.

racerns

The only other track besides LS and Willow, which I already mentioned above, that they have both been tested on is Hockenheim Short which is a tight short track that the ZR1 is not going to be able to use it aero or power advantage.

Also to me this pretty much validates the GM VIR time which people were questioning. This lap was done in much warmer temps with a less experienced driver and came with in 2 sec. The Ford GT was just slightly slower than the last time they tested it at VIR.

Palantirion

I am really, really impressed with the ZR1's results. Amazing for a portly GT to perform even close to LL5 exotics.

turbo8765

Cup 2 R

grandsport2017

The Performante was not driven well. Kept bouncing off the rev limiter.

TrackAire

If I remember correctly, Car and Driver uses a hot shoe magazine editor to drive the cars versus Motor Trend that uses Randy, a pro driver. That will make a lot of difference in lap time consistency between different cars. Maybe somebody can confirm who the C&D driver was.

Looking at the list of lap times, the clear fast for the dollar winner here is the Mustang GT. Buy a new Mustang, put about $8,000 worth of upgrades to it and you'd have a vehicle that is nearly touching a Porsche GT3's stock time. Pretty damn impressive.

Lavender

Or you can just buy a SS 1LE Camaro..

grandsport2017

Good point. Definitely would need some upgrades though. It's not quite a complete track car as is. From the article:
Not aware of this problem with the SS 1LE Camaro.

bcmarly

Hey now wait a minute she's not portly, she's got curves, she's full figured, she's responsive to input, and she makes all the right noises.

the professor

Like others have said, the SS 1LE is a far better car, the Shelby's are the only 'stangs worth looking at.
From the MT article: "the 2018 Mustang GT Perf Pack 2 really needed to smack down its archnemesis, the Camaro SS 1LE that finished fourth here in 2016. The Mustang, unfortunately, missed that bogey, subjectively and objectively."

heavychevy

Nah, Pobst set the record at Road Atlanta.

Also, Andy Pilgrim was also 3 seconds slower on the same track (NCM) in an A8 than he ran the record lap a few months earlier in a manual.

Seems to be a crap shoot. Maybe it's as simple as at the lightning lap, they are driving a bunch of cars that sit around until hot lap time. And with Mero giving pointers and telling them they only have one hot lap, the car was still cool and hadn't dialed the timing all the way back yet. 6 mph is still a lot. There are no road comparisons that allow the car to heat up. All of the tests that the car has performed poorly have had road tests as well I believe.

Mero even predicted 2 seconds slower than him based on ambient temps. 2 seconds is a long time not solely attributed to normal heat affects. Mero clearly knows this issues exists.

This has to be one of the most finicky test vehicles I've seen.

TrackAire

Damn it...I don't know how I missed the SS 1LE on this years list of contenders.........

I don't know how they do it, but the Camaro team does build a car that defies its size and weight on the track. It would be an excellent choice as a track day weapon to inflict heartburn to many a P-car driver.