Car and Driver Launch a 2019 Corvette ZR1 Down The Texas Mile
Since its introduction last year, the automotive world – and the Corvette Community in particular – have been clamoring for real-life track data on the 2019 Corvette ZR1.
This past weekend, Car and Driver Magazine answered the demand by heading out to the Texas Mile, a one-and-a-half mile airstrip-turned-track located at the Victoria Regional Airport in Victoria, Texas. While there, they produced a completely-stock 2019 Corvette ZR1 (that they purchased for exactly this purpose) and put the car through its paces by attempting several runs at the famous land-speed -record setting venue.
For anyone not familiar with the Texas Mile, the venue started as a single auto racing event in Goliad, Texas back in October, 2003. Since that time, it has become one of the hottest tickets for speed-freaks everywhere. The event, which was co-founded by Jay and Shannon Matus (of J&S Matus Motorsports, Inc.) remained in Goliad, Texas until March 2011 before being relocated to the Chase Field Industrial Complex in Beeville, Texas. In 2017, it was relocated again to its new (and current) home in Victoria Texas. Today, the Texas Mile sells out within hours of opening registration, filling 220 coveted spots with competitors from around the world.
In March, 2017, a 2006 Ford GT owned by M2K Motorsports and piloted by Patrick O’Gorman, set the current record at the Texas Mile with a run down the mile that maxed out at 293.6 miles per hour!
A year later, with a Corvette ZR1 in-hand, Car and Driver approached the mile, not with the expectations of beating the previous speed record, but to prove or dis-prove the claims made by GM that the new ZR1 could reach a top speed of 212mph. The Arctic White 2019 Corvette ZR1 came equipped with the ZTK performance package which included the larger, high wing capable of producing an additional 950 pounds of downforce at top-speed.
Per the specs published on the Texas Mile’s website, the 2019 Corvette ZR1’s first two passes resulted in a top-speed of 180.8 mph and 183.3 mph respectively.
The initial results were disappointing to all involved in the test, especially given the claims that the car was capable of a 200+ miles-per-hour top speed. Members of the crew quickly identified that the large spoiler mounted to the rear of the car might actually be inhibiting the car’s performance. While the wing created a lot of additional downforce (which is ideal when maneuvering at high-speed on a road course), it is less-than-ideal for straight-line, high-speed runs.
The crew from Car and Driver removed the spoiler from the car and attempted two additional runs down the Mile. With the spoiler removed, the car’s top speeds improved. On the car’s third run, it achieved a speed of 189.1 miles per hour and then on its fourth (and final) run, it reached a top speed of 190.1 miles per hour.
While Car and Driver has yet to publish any information about the event, we expect that they’ll provide a far more detailed analysis of their experiences at the Texas Mile. In the interim, you can visit the Texas Mile’s website to see additional photos and videos from the event. You can also learn a lot more about the all-new 2019 Corvette ZR1 by clicking here.
