After several high-speed testing sessions at Germany's famed Nurburgring circuit, the '04 Corvette Z06 became one of the few to achieve a sub-8-minute lap through the track's 14-mile course with approximately 170 turns and constant elevation changes.
How do those refinements transfer when the rubber meets the road? After several high-speed testing sessions at Germany's famed Nurburgring circuit, the '04 Corvette Z06 became one of the few to achieve a sub-8-minute lap through the track's 14-mile course with approximately 170 turns and constant elevation changes.
Improving on a good thing is difficult. Improving on a class-dominating racecar and a secure street fighter can prove almost impossible. With the newest release of the Z06 and C5-R, "almost" seems to be the operative word. The only thing better than issuing a Commemorative Edition Corvette that pays homage to a world-class, two-time winning C5-R would be building one for a three-time class- winning C5-R. By the time you read this, we'll know if they won three in a row at Le Mans. It would be a shame if they had to go back and change all those badges on each of the Commemorative cars, but we're sure GM wouldn't mind too much.
Seeing the C5-R team preparing...
Seeing the C5-R team preparing the cars for track action is rarely seen up close at the track. Our time at Gingerman afforded us the opportunity to speak with the crew, drivers, and engineers that make the C5-Rs and the streetcars such a winning combination.
Another added safety feature...
Another added safety feature is the netting between the dash and rollbar. If the Corvette should ever slide sideways into something stable, this netting will absorb and slow the driver's head and helmet to prevent an injury. It has a quick disconnect should the driver need to exit the passenger side of the vehicle. Also, the rollbar tubes tucked under the roofline were redesigned to allow more headroom for the drivers. While not a performance gain per se, the added comfort during a full-tilt driving stint can be greatly appreciated.
After the initiation run with...
After the initiation run with the professional drivers, we had our chance at the Z06s. Trying our hand at threading one of these rockets around the track immediately following a ride with a professional driver is a humbling experience.