Last week, Chevrolet pulled the wraps off the long-rumored C8 Corvette ZR1X, a 1,250-horsepower all-wheel-drive flagship engineered to challenge the European hypercar elite. With the Nurburgring once again in GM’s crosshairs, retired Corvette Ride and Handling Engineer Jim Mero, who spent decades tuning and testing Corvettes on the Nordschleife, joined the HorsePower Obsessed YouTube channel to share his thoughts on what kind of ZR1X Nurburgring lap times it might be capable of.

GM has yet to make an official lap record attempt with a C8 Z06, ZR1, or ZR1X. But that could all change in the coming weeks.

Mero, who retired from GM in 2018 after 34 years, is no stranger to the Ring. Drawing on his extensive experience, he estimates that the C8 Z06 should be able to clock a 6:58 lap. But his most aggressive projection was saved for the new ZR1: where he speculates a sub-6:30 is possible with a staggering 6:23 estimate, placing it as hypercar king besting the Mercedes AMG ONE’s time of 6:29.

Over Jim’s three-plus decade run as a GM test driver, he claims the C7 ZR1 is his all-time favorite.

Corvette’s Sub-Seven-Minute Legacy

During his final days with Chevrolet, Mero recorded an unofficial lap time of 7:04 in the 2019 C7 ZR1, on cold tires, no less. When segment times were tallied (running different parts of the track and then adding them up to simulate a near-perfect run), the result was an unofficial sub-seven-minute pass at 6:57. While GM never released an official Nurburgring time for the C7 generation, Mero’s private data gave enthusiasts a glimpse of what the platform could do. It proved that a properly sorted Corvette had the capability to break the seven-minute barrier, but the record book still lacks a definitive number.

The 638-horsepower C6 ZR1 was able to throw down an official Nurburgring lap time of 7:19.63 with Jim behind the wheel.

Hybrid Power Meets the Green Hell

Mero’s enthusiasm for the new car is tempered by realism. He questions whether the added weight from the hybrid system could impact the ZR1X Nurburgring overall lap time compared to a standard ZR1. More importantly, he raises a concern about battery endurance. With a full lap of the Nurburgring stretching 12.9 miles, there’s speculation the hybrid system may not sustain peak output the entire way, potentially leaving power untapped when it’s needed most.

He also touched on the unpredictable human element. According to Mero, nailing a lap time at the Nurburgring is a complex balance of preparation, perfect conditions, and split-second decisions. Even with the right car and driver, the track doesn’t always cooperate and the team has been hampered in the past by unavoidable conditions.