Watch a Corvette ZR1 do 215mph

We recently drove the new Corvette ZR1. It’s the fastest and most powerful ‘Vette ever. And up there as one of the biggest performance bargains of our time. With every option box ticked, it’ll set you back under $150k.

That gets you 755bhp, 212mph, a 10.2 sec quarter mile, 0-60mph in 2.85secs and 0-100mph in 6 seconds. The McLaren 720S offers very similar numbers, but for roughly twice the price.

But what does that kind of speed look like? Well, Chevrolet has handily released a video of the ZR1’s top speed runs at the infamous Papenburg test track in Germany so you can ride along for yourself.

Unleashed for two flying laps, the ZR1 hit 214.88mph in its first run thanks to a helpful gust of wind. Then it span round and went into the wind to clock 210.20mph during the second run. This averages out at 212mph. Which, put simply, is flipping fast.

Capable of holding its own above 200 will come in handy as the ZR1 has been selected to be this year’s Indy 500 Pace Car. Actually, being that fast, it could practically run at race pace.

It’ll be the 15th time a Corvette has served as the official Pace Car since 1978, and the 29th time a Chevrolet has led the field dating back to 1948, when a 1948 Fleetmaster Six convertible kept the pack in check.

Unlike the top speed car, the car marshalling the 102nd running of the legendary race will be in its high-downforce uniform. This optional more aggressive ZTK aero package buys you a huge, adjustable rear wing which adds around 430kg of downforce across the car at its top speed.

To see how the big, bad ZR1 does at the Brickyard, tune in to the Indy 500 which takes place on Sunday, May 27.