Corvette ZR1 Top Speed: 233 MPH

When GM announced the 2025 Corvette C8 ZR1 on July 26, 2024, some details were missing. One of the details was the top speed other than to say it had a "GM-estimated top speed of over 215 mph ". But on October 15, 2024 It was announced that with non other than GM President Mark Reuss driving, a Corvette ZR1 reached 233.17 miles per hour on the northbound and southbound straightaways of the High-Speed Oval Track at ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg in Papenburg, Germany.

• The ZR1 coupe which set the record had a standard chassis and aero package, with a standard spoiler with short wicker, carbon fiber ground effects, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires and aluminum wheels.
• Chevrolet engineers developed a Top Speed Mode, exclusively for closed course use, which adjusts chassis control systems for maximum speed.
• The ZR1 reached 233 mph with the engine at redline in sixth gear. For comparison, the 755 horsepower 2019 ZR1 Corvette reached 212 mph.
• During testing, including Reuss’s record run, an engineer was in the passenger seat analyzing data in real-time.
• The 233-mph run was not a one-off performance and was the average of two runs in opposite directions to account for wind. Five engineers and both ZR1 development cars onsite exceeded 230 mph across multiple runs.
• Papenburg provided optimal conditions, such as temperature and air density, for a high-speed test. Chevrolet engineers have previously set top speeds for the sixth and seventh generation Corvette ZR1, and the sixth generation Camaro ZL1 at this facility.
• The ZR1 is the fastest car GM has ever produced.
• The Papenburg High-Speed Oval is 7.6 miles long with up to 49.7° degree banks. Each straightaway is 2.48 miles (4.0 km).

The driver: GM President Mark Reuss

“Setting the top-speed record in the Corvette ZR1 is a true triumph for Corvette and for Chevrolet, and also an exhilarating, surreal experience for me personally,” said Reuss. “With the current generation’s switch to mid-engine, we knew the outstanding performance and balance made this a real possibility. To go over there and get it done is a testament to the power of ZR1, and to the incredibly talented team that developed and built it.”

YouTube videos: CLick here and here.

Chris Barber, Corvette ZR1 lead development engineer: “We actually didn’t think 233 was in the cards. That’s part of the reason everyone was so excited. Not only did we meet the target, we did better. It speaks to the confidence the car provides, how easy it felt for us to do something that sounds just insane.”

YouTube videos: CLick here and here.