Normally, I think Nürburgring lap times are silly and shouldn’t be taken seriously, but the time that the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE just set is so insane that I’m going to tell you about it anyway. It involves good, wholesome American manual gearboxes kicking the crap out of fancy soft European dual-clutch transmissions.
The Camaro ZL1 was already a track-thrashing beast. It has a supercharged V8 that makes 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. But then Chevy gave it a 1LE performance package, which meant fatter tires, improved aero, some weight loss and updated suspension bits. And now the thing can do a 7:16 around the Green Hell and I don’t know up from down anymore.
According to nurburgringlaptimes.com, this makes the Camaro faster than a 2010 Porsche 911 GT2 RS, a 2013 Nissan GT-R, a 2012 Corvette ZR1 and a 2015 Ferrari 488 GTB.
I would also like to point out that two of those cars have dual-clutch gearboxes—something manufacturers and Fast People alike will tell us is just quicker than a manual gearbox.
Well, the ZL1 1LE’s lap time was set with a manual offering, so.
Anyway, I actually watched this entire lap. You should, too. And then remember that the Camaro ZL1 1LE can be had for about $70,000.