Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 - El Azul Diablo
The Corvette ZR1 is a fairly unusual car for me. As you all may or may not know, American cars tend to have a bit of a "meh" quality. However, with this, seemingly nicknamed "The Blue Devil", it's a car that looks to Ferrari and the likes and says, with the ever recognizable George S Patton accent "If you know what's good for ya, you will run!"
And oh yes, it did get many the manufacturers seriously waking up to the full force of the most powerful nation on Earth's mighty sledgehammer.
Rewind to the 27th of June, 2008, and the car has just put down a time of 7:26.4 on the most feared test track mankind has yet produced, the Nordschleife. Can you imagine the sense of dread on their faces?
Because here's one of the most unlikely cars ever, against 911 Turbo's and GTR's, and it's sitting right there on the throne as the King of the Ring.
But then it got a whole of better for the ZR1. Because a pokey, middle aged man named Jeremy Clarkson, whom as you all know tends to be difficult on American cars, declared it as his Car of the Year for 2009.
And Top Gear, BBC's most famous show, decided to give the award of Performance Car of the Year to this very one. Easy to see why.
Alongside the ZR1, the C6R GT2 was built in tandem. Of course, it's done superlatively well in the American Le Mans series, taking it's first win in only their third appearance in the 2009 season. And two years down the line, it fulfilled it's destiny by winning the 2011 Le Mans 24 Hours in the GTE-Pro. And after that, it had an downright epic battle with the RLL BMW's that ultimatly won them the 2012 ALMS crown in GT.
Now, I shall admit that there are a few faults: It does look a little vulgar when comparing the looks to other high end sports cars, the luggage cover is essiantely a motel shower curtain and in the real world, it seems to be slower than say, the Audi R8.
The thing is though... Despite the waywardness, and the somewhat plasticy interior, I would still want one of these in real life. Because when the B-Roads are all quiet, I would like the United Kingdom to understand that I've unleashed Rob Zombie unto their world and want them to accept the situation. And thanks to the recklessly loud 6.2 liter LS9 V8, that's possible.
And ultimately, at the end of the day, you just need to remember this when you look at it: One car, one engine... That is how the Nordschleife was won.
havent even noticed it till yet.great shot
