Montoya Pushes Corvette ZR1 to Its Limits at GM's Lutz Ring
After his Watkins Glen win, Juan Pablo Montoya took the Corvette ZR1 for a spirited run at the Milford Proving Ground, giving passengers a taste of its raw performance.
Fresh from his victory at Watkins Glen, NASCAR and former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya spent a day at General Motors’ Milford Proving Ground, taking the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 around the facility’s challenging road course known as the “Lutz Ring”. Montoya, who was driving a Chevrolet in NASCAR at the time, used the opportunity to showcase the ZR1’s performance with a series of fast laps, taking passengers for rides that left them visibly shaken.
The session took place in August 2010, just days after Montoya’s win at Watkins Glen. Rather than a quiet celebration, Montoya’s post-race week included a visit to St. Jude Hospital and then a Thursday at the GM proving ground, where he was invited to drive the ZR1 hard and give ride-alongs to assembled guests and GM staff. According to Montoya, he switched off all the car’s traction and stability controls, allowing the 638bhp supercharged V8 to deliver its full power to the rear wheels. Passengers reported sweating and nerves as Montoya power-slid and spun the tyres in fourth gear, pushing the car up to 150mph on the circuit’s long straights and through its off-camber corners.
ZR1’s raw ability on display
Montoya described the Lutz Ring as a “really, really cool little race track” with a mix of elevation changes and challenging corners. He said he left a margin in the fastest bends but attacked the slower ones, drifting the ZR1 and demonstrating its balance and power. The experience was as much for his own enjoyment as for the passengers, with Montoya admitting he would not want to be his own passenger at those speeds.
Montoya’s comments highlighted how impressed he was with the C6-generation ZR1’s capability on track. He recalled driving previous Corvettes on the road but said the ZR1’s performance on a closed circuit was on another level. The event provided GM with a showcase of its flagship supercar’s abilities, especially in the hands of a driver with Montoya’s credentials.
Passenger reactions and technical details
Passengers ranged from GM staff to media attempting to film the experience, with many left unsettled by the speed and grip of the ZR1 in Montoya’s hands. Montoya said some tried to act unfazed, but the sweating and nervous laughter told a different story. He maintained he was driving within reason, especially in the faster corners, but allowed the car to slide and drift in the slower sections to show off its handling.
| Engine | 6.2-litre supercharged V8 |
|---|---|
| Power | 638bhp |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual |
| Drive | Rear-wheel drive |
| Top speed | 205mph (manufacturer claim) |
The event underlined the ZR1’s status as Chevrolet’s most powerful production car of the time and gave GM engineers and guests a first-hand look at its abilities when pushed to the limit. Montoya’s demonstration at the Lutz Ring remains a memorable example of the ZR1’s potential in skilled hands.
For more on the C6 ZR1’s development and public appearances, seeTop Gear Season 14 Episode 2: Corvette ZR1, Audi R8 V10 and an Electric Car Challenge.
