Sources have confirmed to MC&T that the 2023 Corvette Z06 did not achieve a clean hot lap around the Nürburgring when the engineering team was at the track over the summer. Being no fault of their own, circumstances during industry pool testing kept the Z06 from setting a lap time, which is expected to be capable of under seven minutes. Along with unfavorable weather, the Z06 was impeded by two crashes from BMW and Tesla, as previously reported, when it was scheduled to take to the track.
Image via Chevrolet## Will The C8 Corvette Z06 Go Back To The Nürburgring?
The 2023 Corvette Z06 will not see production until summer of 2022, giving the team a large window to revisit the Nürburgring for another shot at setting a lap time. However, winter is coming in Germany, and we just may have to wait almost an entire year before GM begins another Nürburgring campaign with the Z06. Likely with the upcoming C8 Corvette E-Ray hybrid in tow, as well. Because even if a clean lap time doesn’t materialize, the Corvette team has a schedule to keep with the development of future variants. And that next chapter is E-Ray.
At the moment, it feels like the 2023 Corvette Z06 Nürburgring lap time target is the 992 Porsche 911 GT3, which just came out for the 2022 model year and starts at $161,100 USD. Last September, Porsche sent one around the track with a finishing time of 6:55.34. Yet it’s got nothing on the previous-generation Porsche 911 GT2 RS, which was priced from $293,000 USD. This 700 hp German missile lapped the ‘Ring in a record 6:38; the fastest so far of any production vehicle. We expect the new Z06 to land somewhere in between the two Porsche supercars with its lap time, while coming in way, way under on the MSRP. Because only Porsche can get away with selling six cylinder cars for that kind of money. Because Porsche buyers are suckers.
2023 Corvette Z06 Highlights
The all-new 2023 Corvette Z06 supercar was just revealed, along with its 5.5L DOHC flat plane crank V8 engine, codenamed LT6. Highlights of the Z06 are as follows: a record breaking 670 horsepower at 8,400 RPM (the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 engine in a production car), a bespoke center-exit exhaust system, a dry weight of 3,434 pounds when equipped with the optional carbon fiber wheels, the largest brakes and wheels ever put on a Corvette, up to 734 pounds of downforce with the Z07 performance package, and up to 1.22 G forces of grip around a skid pad. The 2023 Corvette Z06 price has not yet been announced.
Image via Chevrolet
