Right here in Tucson, we are lucky enough to have plenty of racing excitement: The Tucson Speedway just completed their “Chilly Willy 150”, as well as their January Awards Banquet. It can make for a very exciting and high-octane family outing, time to clear one's head, or just simply a scheduled free day for you to enjoy the roar of engines, and thrill of close-cut corners. Back East where the weather may not be quite as favorable this time of year, the Virginia International Speedway has long been a proving grounds for those who are experts in navigating the track at breakneck speed.
The location for action-packed events such as the Pirelli World Challenge, MotoAmerica Championship of Virginia, and Grassroots Motorsports Magazine's Hyperfest Tire Rack Car Challenge, this is a prime East Coast anchor for thrilling family fun. Last year, the Ford GT supercar set a new record for a production car lap here, and this year, our champion contending 2019 Corvette ZR1 left that record in the dust! While out on the track doing what he always does best, Chevy test driver Jim Mero nailed down a time of 2:37.25 for the 4.1-mile circuit. This was completed with the 755-hp 6.2-liter supercharged V8, and was a razor-sharp 1.37 seconds quicker than the GT's previously held record.
Both the Chevy and Ford cars were of showroom spec grade, minus any unique enhancements in the performance realm. Our show-stealing ZR1 was equipped with the extra addition of the ZTK Performance Package, adding the boost of summer-only tires, a track-focused tune of the suspension, and a downforce-producing aero kit. We have also heard many rumors at the office and on various auto blogs that GM could be working on a mid-engine supercar to replace the Corvette next year. Some out there are wondering if the iconic 'Vette may have reached the limits of performance with a design and use of the front engine, and there could be many different types of developments that spurn an entirely new, track dominating and superior machine.
Road and Track proclaimed last year that the ZR1 is definitely “the fastest street car GM has ever made”, and that is the well-versed and proven “True King of the Hill”. At first glance, it is difficult to miss the two very gaping openings in front of the cover: they are here to work overtime in the task of extruding hot air that seeps out of the engine bay. The ZR1's new pushrod V8 sports a 52-percent larger supercharger than the LT4 currently enlisted by the Z06, and the claimed top speed is around 201 miles per hour.
Any driver with hours of logged track experience will immediately notice the difference in handling, in part due to the grip and top-tier quality of the 355 section rear tires. All of us here at Orielly Chevy are beyond excited to see the sheer speed and domination factor of the 2019 Corvette ZR1: Feel free to come down and test drive current models, and explore the options of high-dose automotive freedom available to you!
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