Skip to main content

What It’s Like to Drive the 755-Horsepower Corvette ZR1 on a Racetrack When You’re Not a Racecar Driver

National Corvette Museum
National Corvette Museum

In the past couple of years, I’ve been lucky enough to spend a few days with three different Ferraris, a Cadillac ATS-V, and a BMW X4 M40i. I’m not trying to brag and I’m far from an expert when it comes to cars. I just want to set out for the record that I have spent a good number of hours behind the wheels of a good number of potent automobiles.

Recommended Videos

So when I got the opportunity to drive a Corvette ZR1, I was excited to add it to this growing roster. Would a $120,000 American-made sports car be all that much fun after driving a $300,000 Ferrari 488 or an equally expensive GTC4Lusso? After all, those cars pack in 660 horsepower and make zero to 60 in 3.1 seconds.

Well, as it turns out, yes.

Shortly before hopping into a charcoal-gray ZR1 on a sunny Kentucky day, I learned that this model of Corvette has 755 horses under the hood, a zero-to-60 record of just 2.85 seconds, and a fastest recorded speed of 212 mph. For those of you keeping score at home, that’s 7 miles per hour faster than the top speed of the aforementioned Ferraris and about 70 mph faster than I got “my” Corvette ZR1 going at the end of a straightaway.

Steve John/The Manual

Don’t worry, I was on a racetrack — the NCM Motorsports Park just down the road from the National Corvette Museum and not at all far from the factory where Chevy makes this OG American sports car, by the way.

After a few laps into the drive and several pedal-to-the-floor moments where I got well into the 120-plus mph range, I was more than sold on the ZR1. But I almost missed the chance to enjoy its true potential.

Going back about an hour before I fired the ZR1 up, I took part in a briefing with two drivers who work for NCM Motorsports. They would be serving as the pace cars for the drive in which I and four other journalists were taking part. The only rule? Don’t pass anyone. One pacer would be in the lead, one in the rear, and aside from that, we were just to enjoy the ride. Oh, and not crash.

Chevrolet

As the pack set out, the lead car kept things slow and steady for about half a lap, then started to open up as we all spread out. He was taking turns at 40 to 50 miles per hour, and getting up to 7o or 80 on the straightaways. The second car — the first of the non-professional drivers — however, was not. He kept a steady pace of about 30 miles per hour on the turns and never went faster than 50 on the long, straight lengths of track. By the end of the second lap, I was … well … furious. And not going fast. Here I was in the most powerful car I’d ever driven, but I routinely hit higher speeds coming home from dropping my kid at school in our Toyota Highlander Hybrid.

Then, mercifully, the lead pace car pulled into a pit area and waved us all to follow. He got out of his car, made his way back to the second car, and whispered a few things through the window. Then he jogged back toward me and the driver in front of me and explained that our colleague was dropping back a bit in the order.

The day was saved.

We pulled out again, and within seconds we were all going well over 100 miles per hour.

Now the ZR1’s engine roared, its wheels gripped the road, and I felt genuine G-forces as I pressed home the pedal, leaned into curves, and shifted every few seconds, keeping the RPMs up and the power under tight control. Now the view out the side windows blurred while the track ahead came into clear focus. I watched the path the pace car followed around each turn and tried to match it, keeping my speed as fast as I could without feeling near loss of control (which I did only once for a few seconds following that 131 miles per hour top speed — there was a curve coming up fast at the end of the straight shot). Now I knew that this was one damn fine car, a car America could be proud to call its resounding answer to anything a European automaker put forth, and for less than half the price, too.

The Corvette ZR1 is by no means a cheap car, but it’s so well worth its price that it’s an aspirational vehicle for many. If $120,000 is way more than you want to spend, consider a Corvette Stingray. Those are just $55,900, and 460 horsepower ain’t bad.

Steven John
Steven John is a writer and journalist living just outside New York City, by way of 12 years in Los Angeles, by way of…
Jeep unveils the all-new Cherokee to debut late 2025
New Jeep Cherokee coming late 2025
Jeep Cherokee

When the Cherokee left Jeep's lineup at the end of 2023, it created a noticeable gap between the smaller Compass and the midsize Grand Cherokee, leaving a lot of potential buyers wondering what happened. The Cherokee has always been a strong player in a super competitive field, going head-to-head with big names like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Equinox, and Hyundai Tucson. So, it was a bit confusing when Jeep pulled the plug on the last generation without having a replacement lined up. After two years of sitting on the sidelines, Jeep is finally bringing the Cherokee back.

Recently, Jeep shared the first teasers of the new SUV ahead of its big reveal and expected launch later this year. Fans of classic Cherokees might be excited about the new model’s design, which goes back to a boxier, more rugged look that feels true to Jeep's roots. To highlight this, Jeep put out a cool image showing the new model alongside the older XJ-series Cherokees from the '80s and early 2000s. The 2026 version sports a flatter front end and squared-off headlights that remind many of the classic models, and the roofline is more upright, giving it a tougher vibe.
“The all-new Jeep Cherokee headlines our efforts to deliver more product, innovation, choice and standard content to customers than ever before,” said Bob Broderdorf, Jeep CEO. “Jeep Cherokee will boast competitive pricing that strikes at the core of the largest vehicle segment and sits perfectly between Jeep Compass and Jeep Grand Cherokee to bolster our winning mainstream lineup.”
Right now, Jeep offers a mix of vehicles, including gas engines and plug-in hybrids with their clever 4xe technology available in models like the Grand Cherokee and Wrangler. There’s a chance the new Cherokee could include a basic gas engine—maybe the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder found in the Compass—alongside a 4xe hybrid model or even an all-electric version. For now, more details are still under wraps, but fans are eager to find out what Jeep has in store as the launch date gets closer.

Read more
The 2025 BMW X7 M60i may be the sportiest full-sized SUV on the market
Driving this, you forget you're in a full-sized SUV
Front 3/4 view of a a blue BMW X7 M60i

The luxury SUV market is a little crowded these days, so sometimes it’s difficult to stand out. There’s an argument that you should play to your historic strengths if you want to succeed, and that’s likely what BMW has done with the X7 M60i SUV. The vehicle is much larger than your average Blimmer, but at its core, it has all of the qualities that BMW customers tend to appreciate.

I recently spent some time looking at BMW’s biggest SUV, which has been enhanced with an “M” package. So, before hopping in the driver’s seat, I was already expecting a good amount of comfort paired with exceptional power. This is why the X7 M60i did not disappoint on either front.
It’s very aggressive, like a tiger on a leash

Read more
Bridgestone’s new touring tire comes with an 80,000 mile warranty
Bridgestone Launches All-New Turanza EverDrive Touring Tire
bridgestones new touring tire comes with an 80000 mile warranty bridgestone turanza everdrive  3

Since we started using a set of Firehawk Indy 500 tires a few months ago, Bridgestone has really impressed us with their dedication to quality and innovation in the tire scene. This week, they’ve introduced an exciting new addition—the Turanza EverDrive touring tire, and it's backed by an incredible 80,000-mile warranty, which is their longest yet.

These tires are designed for sedans, CUVs, and minivans, and they come with some really new and useful technology. The next-generation rubber compound helps fight against uneven wear, so you can expect them to last you longer. Plus, they’ll give you a smooth and comfortable ride, perfect for all your daily adventures with or without the family.

Read more