At Arizona’s Apex Motor Club, DragTimes staged a showdown few expected to see so soon: the new Corvette ZR1X taking on the mighty Bugatti Chiron over a 1,600-foot stretch of private tarmac. With scorching desert temperatures and an unprepped surface adding uncertainty, the matchup became less about headline figures and more about real-world traction, driver input, and raw acceleration.
Representing the American challenger was Mark from Attorneys on Retainer, supplying the all-wheel-drive ZR1X powered by a twin-turbo flat-plane-crank V8 producing 1,250 horsepower. Across from it stood Devon’s Bugatti Chiron, the $4 million hypercar packing a 1,500-horsepower quad-turbo W16 and long recognized as one of the quickest production cars ever built.
The setting favored no one. By early morning, Arizona heat had already pushed temperatures beyond 80 degrees, limiting grip and making launch consistency difficult. The Chiron rolled on Michelin Cup 2 tires, while the ZR1X relied on Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rubber, creating another variable in an already unpredictable contest.
From the opening drag race, the Corvette stunned spectators. While the Chiron struggled with wheelspin, the ZR1X launched hard and immediately established a lead. Subsequent runs told a similar story. Even after giving the Bugatti a head start, the Corvette maintained its advantage once both cars found traction, finishing multiple car lengths ahead.
The action shifted to roll racing, where the Chiron’s gearing and immense power delivery became more apparent. A missed shift initially hampered the Corvette, allowing the Bugatti to capitalize, but a rerun produced a far tighter battle. While the Chiron surged strongly through the middle of the run, the ZR1X held firm toward the top end.
The result highlighted just how disruptive the ZR1X may be. Despite costing a fraction of the Chiron’s price, Chevrolet’s newest performance flagship proved capable of challenging — and in several drag scenarios beating — one of the automotive world’s most iconic hypercars.
Source: DragTimes
