Onboard: Experience the 1,064-HP Chevy Corvette ZR1 Setting a New Lap Record at Road Atlanta.

      Chevrolet

      The incredibly powerful 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is already shattering track records. Who would have predicted this? On Tuesday, Chevy announced that the 1,064-horsepower supercar has set five new lap records at various racecourses across the United States: Watkins Glen Long Course, Road America, Virginia International Raceway Full Course, VIR Grand Course, and Road Atlanta. An onboard video of the C8’s record-setting run at Road Atlanta demonstrates just how much car it is for that circuit, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit envious of the engineer behind the wheel.

      Previously, the Porsche 911 GT2 RS held the record for the fastest production car at Road Atlanta, clocking in at 1:24.88. It had actually surpassed the earlier lap record set by the C7 Corvette ZR1. Now, GM and the Corvette team have reclaimed that title with an impressive lap time of 1:22.8.

      The achievement was made possible by Corvette engineer Chris Barber, the same individual who initiated this intense record-breaking rivalry with the previous ZR1 model. Barber was excited to be back at Road Atlanta, a track known for its short length, hilly terrain, blind crests, tricky corners, and a long straightaway perfect for showcasing all that horsepower.

      “I was ecstatic to get Road Atlanta due to the Corvette's history there,” Barber stated. “It’s my favorite track in North America. Achieving a lap record that is two seconds faster was incredibly thrilling for me.”

      While Barber enjoyed breaking the lap record with the old ZR1 in 2019, he found this attempt a bit easier. “That car is fantastic, but it’s more challenging to manage the power,” he confessed. “The mid-engine configuration is simply more forgiving—it allows for better power delivery with that weight in the rear.”

      I believe there’s potential for an even faster time. This isn’t to discredit Barber or suggest he didn’t maximize the car’s performance—he came very close—but from watching the onboard footage, the ZR1 appears slightly bouncy, and the front end seems a bit more jittery than in the 911 GT2 RS video. It’s feasible that the ZR1 could achieve an even quicker time and surpass its already impressive record, but until it’s dethroned, there’s no real impetus to do so.

      Enjoy the onboard footage as the car zooms around the historic sports car track’s 12 turns:

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