“Some automakers have described their sportiest automobiles as ‘race automobiles for the street,’ however McLaren makes all of them liars,” Automobile and Driver wrote again in 2019, describing the ridiculously track-capable McLaren Senna‘s efficiency at its annual Lightning Lap competitors. And McLaren did not simply make these different OEMs liars — it made them losers, too, laying down a record-setting manufacturing automotive lap time of 2.34.9 that is held ever since. Till immediately. Transfer over, McLaren Senna, as a result of Automobile and Driver says there’s a brand new Lightning Lap report, and it belongs to the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.
Sure, with an official lap time of 2:34.2 round Virginia Worldwide Raceway, the 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is now the quickest manufacturing automotive that has ever entered Lightning Lap, beating the Senna’s outdated time by 0.7 seconds. And no, we’re not speaking concerning the all-wheel-drive, 1,250-horsepower Corvette ZR1X hybrid. Hopefully, Chevrolet will make one out there for subsequent 12 months’s Lightning Lap, however this 12 months, our pals over at C/D had been compelled to accept the common ZR1 and its pedestrian 1,064 hp.
Nonetheless, whereas the boring ZR1 might not have the ZR1X’s energy, it isn’t just like the Senna made Bugatti Chiron ranges of energy. As a substitute, it made a relatively pedestrian 789 hp, giving every rear wheel a mere 394.5 hp to deal with. That mentioned, the Senna was additionally lighter, clocking in at 3,030 kilos when C/D weighed it, in comparison with the Corvette’s porkier 3,899 kilos. And humorous sufficient, if you take weight under consideration, you get 3.7 kilos per horsepower from the Corvette and a virtually an identical 3.8 lbs/hp from the McLaren.
Take that, England
For those who at the moment personal a Senna, don’t fret, you do not have to throw it out and exchange it with a Chevrolet. You are wealthy and might simply add a ZR1 to your assortment. That mentioned, if you happen to do, you might have to recurrently remind your self that the Senna is a super-rare, limited-production hypercar that you just had been fortunate to get your fingers on, as a result of the value distinction will astound you. McLaren might have demanded $964,966 for a base Senna and $982,816 for C/D‘s check automotive, however $216,380 will get you a base ZR1 (earlier than vendor markup), and the tester solely price $238,695.
You possibly can nonetheless purchase a whole home in some elements of the nation for $238,000, in order that’s not chump change, nevertheless it’s nonetheless wild that the ZR1 simply beat a purpose-built observe particular round VIR that price 4 occasions as a lot. And whereas you’ll find nicer cabins on the ZR1’s pricepoint, it isn’t just like the Senna appears to be like like a Rolls-Royce as compared. You get a whole lot of fake suede and carbon fiber, that are costly, however they do not actually really feel that high-end. Not that you really want a track-focused supercar with a pile of luxurious options. I am simply saying, the normal line does not apply right here.
This is not a type of, “Positive, it is fast in a straight line, however what about corners and the cabin?” conversations that individuals usually have about low-cost American efficiency. That is an American supercar displaying up on the identical observe because the McLaren and kicking it within the enamel, whereas nonetheless being comfy sufficient to drive dwelling. However it’s nonetheless quick as hell in a straight line, too, hitting a prime velocity of 179.0 mph and setting a brand new Lightning Lap prime velocity report within the course of. As for the earlier report holder, that was additionally a McLaren — particularly a McLaren 765LT that hit a prime velocity of 174.6 mph again in 2021.
