Since Lightning Lap started in 2006, the LL3 pricing class has always been the best value and performance sweet spot. LL2 often has more opponents, but it doesn’t have the firepower of LL3: cars that can seat two, four, or five people. Sedans, coupes, and SUVs are all available. LL3 has everything. The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 set a new LL3 lap time of 2:38.6 seconds. Because European and Japanese automobiles have to compete with American steel, which almost always provides a better deal, the phrase “best bang for the buck” was coined to describe the situation. Corvettes are challenged by several other automobiles, including specific AMG 63s, Cadillac Vs., Camaros, Ford Mustang GT500s, BMW Ms, and others. This year, the classes are changed, so LL3 includes vehicles with base prices from $75,000 to $139,999. Also, we did not set that limit based on how much the Z06 costs. The LL3 champion has always been an American. The first LL3 champion was a C6 Z06 from 2006, and the second was a C6 Z06 from 2007. Their Lightning Lap 1 and 2 times were 3:01.1 and 2:58.6, respectively. A Dodge Viper SRT10 cut the LL3 time by 1.2 seconds in a one-time test. It was the next car to hold the belt. The third episode of Lightning Lap came next. You should learn more about it if you don’t know about it. The Nissan GT-R (LL3), Ferrari 430 Scuderia (LL5), Mosler MT900S (LL5), and second-generation Cadillac CTS-V were some of the best cars on display (LL2). Another group member, the Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR (LL3), ran a 2:48.6—a 10-second improvement for LL3 vehicles. At the time, the Mosler was the only car that could finish in less than 2:50. (2:45.9). The ACR remained the LL3 goal until the ninth Lightning Lap when the 650-hp Corvette Z06 (a C7) turned a 2:44.6 because of the big jump. At Lightning Lap 14, it would be the same as a Mustang Shelby GT500. The new Corvette Z06’s amazing lap time brings us full circle. The Corvette changed its design to put the engine in the middle of the car so that it would do better on racetracks. Its lap time of 2:38.6 not only sets a new record for LL3, but it also ranks fifth for a naturally aspirated engine in Lightning Lap history. Anything faster than an LL4 costs at least twice as much as an LL4. Simply having that to be happy about is reason enough.
