After years of speculation, testing delays, and close calls, Chevrolet has officially released Nurburgring lap times for the Corvette Z06, ZR1, and the much-anticipated hybrid-powered ZR1X. The results mark a huge moment in Corvette history. Not only did GM break into the ultra-elite sub-seven-minute club, but the new ZR1X Nurburgring lap also claimed the crown as the fastest American production car ever around the Nurburgring Nordschleife.

What makes this achievement even more impressive is that the entire record-setting effort was done in-house. Unlike most manufacturers who bring in pro drivers for Ring laps, GM handed the keys to their own engineers. Three team members who not only developed these cars but have spent years testing them at Germany’s legendary 12.9-mile circuit known as the Green Hell. This was more than just a timed run. It was a full-on redemption arc for the Corvette team, and they finally got their moment.

Corvette Z06, ZR1 and ZR1X (back to front) at the Nürburgring Nordschleife racetrack in Germany.

Breaking the Seven-Minute Barrier

The 2026 Corvette ZR1X, a 1,250-horsepower performance hybrid, put down a blistering lap time of 6:49.275 at the Nurburgring. GM Vehicle Dynamics engineer Drew Cattell was behind the wheel, making him the fastest non-professional driver ever to post an official Nurburgring lap.

This lap time firmly places the ZR1X in the company of legends like the Mercedes AMG One, Porsche 911 GT2 RS MR, and Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, showing that American engineering can go toe-to-toe with the world’s best on their home turf.

Aaron Link, vehicle performance manager and driver of the Corvette Z06. 7:11.82 lap time.

The ZR1X wasn’t alone. GM also brought out the upcoming Corvette ZR1, which features a 1,064-horsepower twin-turbo V8. GM engineer Brian Wallace drove it to a time of 6:50.763, putting it just one and a half seconds behind the ZR1X.

And let’s not forget the naturally aspirated 670-horsepower C8 Z06, which still managed a very respectable 7:11.826 lap in the hands of engineer Aaron Link.

Brian Wallace, vehicle dynamics engineer and driver of the Corvette ZR1. 6:50.763 lap time.

No auto manufacturer has done a Nurburgring lap attempt like this before. From development through production, and now at the Nurburgring Nordschleife, the Green Hell, we have clearly shown there is no limit to what our GM engineers and vehicles can accomplish. These are the best Corvettes in history, period. —GM President Mark Reuss—

From development to the lap attempts, this was a homegrown project. No hired guns. No exotic modifications. Just production-spec cars (with only mandatory track safety equipment) and three engineers who knew their cars inside and out. Each car ran with a roll hoop, containment race seat, fire extinguisher, and six-point harness, per Nurburgring safety protocol, but were otherwise unmodified.

Drew Cattell, vehicle dynamics engineer and driver of the Corvette ZR1X. 6:49.275 lap time.

Why This Lap Matters So Much to Corvette Fans

Corvette Nation has been anxiously waiting for official Nurburgring numbers since the C8 debuted. The only officially recorded lap time until now was the 2020 C8 Stingray’s 7:29.9, which wasn’t exactly a head-turner. Many enthusiasts speculated that GM had been holding back due to budget constraints, the pandemic, and bad luck at the Ring. Those theories aren’t wrong.

Back in May, Corvette chief engineer Tony Roma gave us some insight during an interview into why it’s easier said than done to get to the Ring all the way from the US and make an attempt.  “We do have more development going on yet this year. If we have something worthy of talking about, we will talk about it,” Roma replied to a question about whether the C8 ZR1 has an official Nurburgring lap time. “It’s more involved than you would think to actually get a certified time, and it costs us a lot of money. Nurburgring got smart a couple of years ago, and they charge you for the privilege of talking about it. We know everybody wants to know [the Nurburgring time]. I can tell you the cars are super-fast, but right now, we don’t have anything to talk about.”

Corvette ZR1X at the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany.

In August 2021, GM’s Nurburgring test program was derailed when two separate crashes during industry testing took out multiple C8 Z06 prototypes. Combine that with weather issues and scheduling constraints, and the team had to leave Germany without recording an official lap.

Corvette Z06, ZR1 and ZR1X (back to front) at the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany.

A New Era of American Performance

For decades, Nurburgring lap times were the domain of German and Italian marques. American cars, while powerful, were often dismissed as too heavy or too unsophisticated for a track like this. That’s changed. The ZR1X Nurburgring lap is not only the fastest American production car, it’s also one of the fastest non-electric production cars, period. The Green Hell has a new king—and it wears a bowtie.