Pro Driver Says Corvette ZR1 Could’ve Gone 10 Seconds Faster at Nürburgring originally appeared on Autoblog.
Detailed lap analysis reveals where the ZR1 went wrong
The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and ZR1X just set new Nürburgring records for American sports cars, toppling the much more expensive Ford Mustang GTD in the process. It’s a staggering achievement, but YouTube personality and Nürburgring expert Misha Charoudin believes the Corvettes could’ve set significantly faster times.
This is a guy who races professionally for Bilstein and lives on the Nürburgring’s doorstep, so he knows more than most about what these cars are capable of. In a lengthy new video, he explains why the ZR1 could’ve been so much faster—here are the highlights of Charoudin’s analysis.
A Pro Driver Would've Made A Huge Difference
As we already knew, Charoudin pointed out that Chevy used its own engineers to set the lap times for the ZR1 and ZR1X. Although these are experienced drivers with a deep understanding of how to extract the most from the Corvettes, we suggested that pro drivers could set even better lap times. Charoudin agreed, but we did not expect him to predict that a whole 10 seconds could be shaved off the Corvette’s time. At this level, 10 seconds is an eternity.
Charoudin closely analyzed the lap of the Chevy engineer driving the ZR1, saying that his “conservative safety margins” increased the lap times. He also demonstrates how Chevy’s driver stayed away from the track’s curbs, which lengthens the distance the car has to cover. Pro drivers also tend to brake later as they approach corners, while their minimum speeds through corners are typically higher than what Charoudin saw in this ZR1 lap.
“With someone who is more comfortable with the car… [a sub-six-minute-and-40-second time] is relatively easy and possible, I would say,” said Charoudin. “Maybe they’ve already done a lap time with a pro driver, and will release it later, when they find it necessary.”
Charoudin’s Prediction Would Move The Corvette Way Up On The All-Time List
Assuming Charoudin’s assessment is accurate, a Nürburgring lap time of just under six minutes and 40 seconds would place the Corvette ZR1 at the number 2 spot on the all-time list, behind only the Mercedes-AMG ONE (06:29.090).
It would overtake the Mercedes-AMG Black Series, Porsche 911 GT2 RS MR, and Porsche 911 GT2 RS Manthey Kit. Remember, too, that Charoudin’s assessment is based on the ZR1, not the even more powerful ZR1X. If the latter is also 10 seconds faster in the hands of a pro driver—its current record is 06:49.275 minutes—it would be an even greater achievement, but it still wouldn’t be enough to conquer the Mercedes.
Perhaps Charoudin is right and Chevy has already done a lap time with a pro driver, ready to unleash the new time as soon as Ford responds which, according to Ford CEO Jim Farley, looks likely.
It’s worth watching Charoudin’s full analysis to see all the small yet significant details that distinguish a pro driver from a really good one.
Related: Ford CEO Hints At Revenge Lap After Corvette Steals Nurburgring Record
Pro Driver Says Corvette ZR1 Could’ve Gone 10 Seconds Faster at Nürburgring first appeared on Autoblog on Aug 5, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
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