New Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X shatters production car record at Pikes Peak
The 104th edition of the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will go down in history as the moment when American supercars redefined the limits of physics. In the famous “Race to the Clouds,” held at an altitude of over 13,000 feet, the new Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X demonstrated overwhelming superiority, officially becoming the fastest production car in the history of this legendary track.
Historic performance: 23 seconds faster than Porsche
At the wheel of the American monster was former IndyCar driver JR Hildebrand. He tackled the 156 turns of the 20-kilometer track with controlled aggression, stopping the clock at an astonishing 9 minutes and 30.104 seconds.
The performance is all the more remarkable as the car used was not modified for this race, being identical to the model that customers can buy from dealerships. The Corvette ZR1X shattered the old record held by the Porsche 911 Turbo S, being no less than 23 seconds faster — an eternity in the world of motorsport.
“To climb Pikes Peak in a production car and achieve such a time demonstrates the incredible level of engineering behind this model.” – JR Hildebrand
1250 HP and acceleration worthy of fighter jets
Behind this historic success is the most powerful production version ever created in the history of the Chevrolet brand. Under the hood, the ZR1X hides a hybrid powerplant:
- Powertrain: A 5.5-liter V8 engine, assisted by a high-performance electric motor.
- Total power: 1250 horsepower.
- Acceleration (0-96 km/h): Just 1.89 seconds, performance achieved when the car is equipped with the optional ZTK Performance Package (which brings major aerodynamic improvements and a recalibrated suspension).
At an altitude of over 4,000 meters, where the thin air suffocates conventional engines, the electric motor's input and the perfect calibration of the hybrid system provided the Corvette ZR1X with constant power resources throughout the climb.
Ford dominates overall, Emelia Hartford becomes "Queen of the Mountain"
Although the Corvette attracted all eyes in the production car category, the overall victory in the 104th edition went to an American manufacturer. Ford triumphed with the electric prototype Super Mustang Mach-E, driven by Frenchman Romain Dumas. The electric monster covered the course in 8 minutes and 18 seconds.
Chevrolet's glory day was rounded out by another remarkable performance in the women's camp. Emelia Hartford, also driving a Corvette, became the fastest woman in Pikes Peak history.
She completed the climb in 10 minutes and 11.018 seconds, beating the old record set by Laura Hayes by 6.5 seconds. Following this exceptional performance, Emelia Hartford was officially crowned the “Queen of the Mountain.”