2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Laps Nurburgring in 7:26

After hearing of the scorching lap time set by the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V at the Nurburgring, we were anxiously waiting to see what the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 could throw down. We wait no longer: the 638-hp ZR1 makes its way around the 17.6-mile course in a scant 7 minutes and 26.4 seconds. The Corvette development team has been in Germany over the past few weeks, but engineer Jim Mero piloted the ZR1 to the new time early this morning. Mero's car was reportedly bone-stock, equipped only with radio and safety equipment required to run the 'Ring. Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter noted the car even ran on pump fuel, which - given the supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 underhood - was likely high-octane. That 7:26 time shatters the time set by a likely ZR1 competitor, Nissan's GT-R, which lapped the 'Ring earlier this year in 7 minutes 29 seconds. Although Juechter downplays the importance of Nurburgring times, we're betting Nissan's folks are working dilligently to best the ZR1's time with an upcoming GT-R V-spec.