Driven by IndyCar and Pikes Peak veteran JR Hildebrand, the new Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X has blown the production car record at Pikes Peak out of the water. A few minutes after Hildebrand’s run to the top, the record had been broken “with confidence,” Chevrolet told me at the base of the mountain.
The climb is always fraught with pitfalls, as poor cell and satellite service means some teams have to rely solely on TV coverage for their effort to see how things are going. After sending the car off, members of the Chevrolet race team went back to their garage to watch the effort live. After an excruciating, but incredibly short wait, the ZR1X crossed the line in 9:30.104, a full 23 seconds faster than the previous production car record. From my post near the start line, I could hear the cheering of the Chevrolet crew.
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The previous record was held by David Donner, who drove a Porsche 911 Turbo S to the summit in 2022. All cars, including the ZR1X that won on Sunday, should receive some modifications for safety. It includes a roll cage, fuel cell, five-point harness system, cutoff switch and a fire suppression system. Other than that, the Corvette was unmodified. The car finished the race on the same Michelin Pilot Cup 2R tires that you get when you order a ZR1X directly from Chevrolet.
“I love running in places where the challenge is simple and clear – places where you can write your own script about who you’re racing with, and who you’re racing against. Pikes Peak is perfect…it’s like the ultimate mix of those things,” Hildebrand said.
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Despite 1,250 horsepower, all-wheel drive and a massive V8 behind its head to provide power and grip, Hildebrand says the course isn’t easy. “It’s a 12.42-mile course with 156 corners, with the start line at an altitude of 9,400 feet and the finish in the clouds at an altitude of 14,100 feet. The nature of the circuit is a huge challenge in itself.”
