- A 2026 Chevrolet Corvette set a new record for American manufacturers at Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife racing circuit
- Automakers use the track as a benchmark because of its uniquely demanding conditions
There are many ways to measure a car’s speed, but many of the world’s car enthusiasts have settled on one. It’s not one of the obvious few.
It’s not top speed. It’s not zero-to-60 mph acceleration. No, it’s something much weirder.
Automakers compete to lap one specific racetrack faster than their rivals.
The 12.9-mile Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany’s westernmost state is the focus of a shocking amount of attention from the world’s car builders and car enthusiasts. With more than 1,000 feet of elevation change, 154 turns, and one straightaway of appreciable length, it’s a punishing challenge for a car’s steering, suspension, and ability to convert fuel and air into forward motion.
It has a new American champion.
Chevrolet has now set the fastest lap time ever achieved by an American automaker.
The 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X set a time of 6 minutes 49 seconds around the course. That places it fifth all-time among production cars, and first among American-made production cars.
No Racing Driver, No Special Equipment
- GM engineers, not professional racers, piloted the cars
- Apart from safety gear, they were unmodified cars available to retail buyers
The Corvette didn’t even need a professional race car driver behind the wheel, Chevrolet says. Chevy vehicle dynamics engineer Drew Cattell set the time – though we should note that we’ve driven with some GM engineers who could hold their own against pros. Chevrolet says Cattell has lapped the ‘Ring 600 times, which is a figure some professional race car drivers couldn’t match.
The ZR1X is a 1,250-horsepower hybrid featuring a twin-turbo V8 engine that powers the rear wheels and an electric drive unit that powers the front.
Chevrolet also brought a ZR1 model with a lowly 1,064 hp and a Z06 boasting 670. The ZR1 placed seventh all-time, with a 6:50 lap.
Both times beat the previous American record holder, the Ford Mustang GTD, which did it in 6:52.
In a statement, Chevrolet notes that “The Corvettes at the Nürburgring were all U.S. production-spec vehicles, with the only modifications being the safety equipment recommended by the track.” The Nürburgring website will list the ZR1 and ZR1X as prototype vehicles because they aren’t sold in Europe. But, apart from safety equipment, the cars used were the same models you can find in Chevrolet showrooms, on carbon fiber wheels and summer-only tires available to retail buyers.
Only Rare Porsche, Mercedes Models Beat It
- Two European manufacturers have posted faster times
The production car record belongs to the Mercedes AMG One, a rare supercar built in extremely limited numbers. The One lapped the ‘ring in 6:29.
A pair of Porsche 911 GT2 RS models, one with a Menthey Performance Kit and one without, have also beaten Chevrolet’s time, as has the Mercedes AMG Black Series.
