The Chevrolet Corvette Z06, equipped with ultra-lightweight carbon fibre wheels, has broken Car & Driver ‘Lightning Lap’ lap records.
The C8 Z06 recorded a time of 2:38.6 seconds around the 4.1-mile Virginia International Raceway. This made the Corvette the fastest vehicle tested in 2023, and the fastest naturally aspirated vehicle and fastest in its price category in Lightning Lap history. It was also the fifth-fastest overall.
Lighter wheels = faster turn in
Car & Driver writer K.C. Colwell praised the Z06’s chassis balance and steering feel.
“Equipped with optional carbon fibre wheels, which shave 41 pounds of rotating (and unsprung) mass, this car turns in like no other at high speed,” he wrote.
Carbon Revolution supplies the five-spoke carbon fibre wheels available on the Corvette Z06 (and upcoming Corvette E-Ray).
Performance enhancing wheels
The Z06 recorded a faster lap time than even expensive European exotics, and previous Corvette models including the more powerful C7 ZR1.
Chevrolet engineers have previously stated that switching to carbon fibre wheels can improve lap times by up to 1.5-2.0 seconds over a two-minute lap, all other factors being equal.
Carbon Revolution wheels have a history of success at the Lightning Lap. Before the Z06’s record-breaking lap this year, the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Carbon Fiber Track Pack held the equal record for the LL3 class in 2021.
Read more and watch the Z06’s Lightning Lap on Car & Driver.
