REPORT: Corvette ZR1 matches Nissan GT-R around Nürburgring in Sport Auto test
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 - click above image for hi-res gallery
Ah... what's it been, three weeks since we mentioned a Nürburgring "record?" Well, rest easy friends, as this post has nothing to do with a "record." Instead, it's all about the time laid down at the 'Ring by Horst von Saurma, editor of Germany's Auto Sport. Herr von Saurma lends an air of credibility to these tests, as not only did he briefly race professionally, but his 'Ring results are generally taken seriously. For instance, his 7:32 in a Porsche Carrera GT was considered the production record until recently when Nissan and General Motors started bringing in factory hot shoes.
Anyhow, here's what Horst found: The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 goes around the Nurburgring in 7:38 – the exact same amount of time it took him to hoof the Nissan GT-R around the circuit. Odd, you think? For the Nissan weighs almost 500 pounds more and gives up at least 100 horsepower to the Chevy. Not to mention around 165 lb-ft of torque. Yes, well, the 'Ring ain't a drag strip. And while big power helps, it's not the be-all and end-all. Both cars handle extremely well, but we're going to chock up the GT-R's impressive tie to an X factor. Namely, the twin-turbo Nissan is easier to flog at or around the limit than the supercharged Corvette – all-wheel drive helps in the dry, too, see?
And what about the issue that both manufacturers laid down 'Ring times in the 7:25 range? Well, it's within the margin of error you'd expect for a track as long as the Nürburgring, especially when the cars are driven on different days by different drivers. One more thing: Horst von Saurma laid down the Nissan's time in a 2009 model, and not in the new 2010 which features more power, better suspension and better brakes. Nor, for that matter, is it the Spec-V model. Just sayin'. Thanks to Wags for the tip!
Gallery: Review: 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Gallery: Review: 2010 Nissan GT-R
[Source: GTRblog]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
TonyInMI 1:34PM (9/23/2009)
Here we go again...
Reply
zamafir 1:41PM (9/23/2009)
No no, this is good, it'll help with all the other petty "i don't care if it's twice as much and just as fast i love my xxx" comments.
darkmastyr 1:35PM (9/23/2009)
article written by a fanboy much?
Reply
BigMcLargeHuge 2:06PM (9/23/2009)
The title could probably have been "ZR1 Sport Auto times in".
Didn't need to even mention the GT-R in the post. Let the bloggers do the math.
Carlos 1:35PM (9/23/2009)
Nurburgring times are like EPA estimates, taken with a grain of salt. Besides 99% of both cars owners aren't going to either care about ring times nor drive their cars at the ring. The only type of people that the ring times really satisfy are the fan boys.
Reply
jv2k 4:52PM (9/23/2009)
99% of those car owners are physically incapable of driving their car that fast around the track.
Anyway it isn't easy to drive around a track in different cars and the zr1 isn't as easy a car to drive so it isn't surprising that this happened.
chconline 5:23PM (9/23/2009)
A bit off topic, but anyone who spends $70-80k on a sports car should also invest in some racing lessons. They aren't that expensive and it vastly improves the fun you can have with the car along with the whole safety factor. I am quite young and I have received some professional training in driving, and to be honest if it wasn't for those skills (Especially when it comes to safety) no one should get a big V8 with upwards of 600hp like the ZR1. Heck the twin turbo V6 in the GT-R is quite a load for a amateur driver to handle correctly.
paul34 7:41PM (9/23/2009)
chconline, see that's the difference between us and "them." Most people able to afford such cars have little to no idea what they're buying; they just walk into somewhere and say "gimme the fastest thing you've got" and walk out with every option they could add on. Then, they go show off to all the peons.
People like you or I are pistonheads capable of appreciating such vehicles. But alas, our finances generally aren't of the same caliber.
It always makes me sad to see a great vehicle in the hands of someone who isn't capable of appreciating it at all. Many Ferrari and Lamborghini owners are like this - they barely know the model name of what they're driving. In fact, many of their friends don't know the difference between a Ferrari and Lamborghini, or between a Bentley and Maserati.
Franz 1:35PM (9/23/2009)
Alright... who ordered can-o-worms for lunch?
Reply
The Hit 6:35PM (9/23/2009)
With croutons
Cmicasa the GREAT 1:38PM (9/23/2009)
Let me say that on looks alone the BASE Vette, let alone the GS, Z06 or ZR1 would get my money over that JAP CRAP UGLY MOFO GTR.
Second... Who gives a damn about RING TIMES... I live in the U.S. and far as I kno.. the Ring is an OCEAN and lots of land away.
My $60K LS3Z51 will run with or beat any Nissan u throw my way
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ack154 1:55PM (9/23/2009)
Hey Cmicasa the GREAT, I'm really happy for you and I'mma let you finish, but the Three Billy Goats Gruff were the best trolls of all time. OF ALL TIME!
Sorry guys.. really, I apologize for getting all Kanye on this, but geez. This guy should have stopped when he got to "Let me say..."
Carlos 2:20PM (9/23/2009)
You never go full retard
Sofa King Fast! 2:32PM (9/23/2009)
"You never go full retard" - Carlos
Best. Comeback. Ever.
arinze 5:01PM (9/23/2009)
@ack 154
LMFAO!!!!!
That was funny! Kanye is the man.
F50 1:38PM (9/23/2009)
The ACR Viper still beats them right?
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Aki 1:44PM (9/23/2009)
For the 10th time, the ACR is a stripped down, barely street-rideable car. If Nissan/Chevy were to introduce a car with non-existent sound deadening, unbearably high suspension damping then you'd have a valid comparison.
BigMcLargeHuge 1:51PM (9/23/2009)
Aki,
Honestly I think F50's comparison to the ZR1 is about as valid as the ZR1 to the GT-R.
The GT-R is a 2+2.
So if you're going to compare a GT-R to a ZR1, you might as well throw in the ACR.
And the answer is yes, the ACR kicks all but very rare @ss.
Chris O 2:53PM (9/23/2009)
The ACR is definitely faster, with a good driver.
Stratifying sports and super cars into comparison groups seems odd to me. Despite being targeted at different audiences, the ZR1, ACR, and GT-R are supposed to be representative of the "best-of-the-best" in street cars. They're all completely street legal, so I think any comparisons are valid.
If the manufacturers don't agree, they shouldn't have sent their cars out to the ring.
Aki 5:11PM (9/23/2009)
ACR is a "street car" only in formality. It's a club-racer that happens to pass all necessary regulations to be street legal. ZR1 and GT-R by contrast are made for the street. If you were to strip out a GT-R or ZR1, make the suspension utterly unfriendly for anything but a track, then you'd see much better times from both cars. That's why you don't see ACR grabbing all the press that the ZR1 or GT-R do.