Forza Motorsport 7: Night out with a 'Maro at Daytona

Last weekend's Daytona is a blast and fans like us get to see the Camaro stock car in action. It's too bad some of the Camaros got caught in the wreckage while some couldn't make it to top where Fusion and Camry stock cars rule the Daytona 500 like grease lightning but thanks to the driver of the #3, history has been made once again and I had a lot of fun watching Chevrolet's newest stock car in action and in fact, I had a chance to drive the one that inspired it round the Daytona track.



Well, not a stock car as such but it's close as the one NASCAR Chevy drivers car get. This is the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, and it's based on the sixth-generation Camaro. If you need a little refresher, just listen; The ZL1 returns on the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro as the most powerful of the range while promising to put priorities to hardcore drivers first before everything else with its track-honed dynamics apart from its ferocious speed.

It comes with the same supercharged 6.2L V8 engine from the Corvette C7 Z06, producing 650HP of power and same amount for torque while mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic gearbox. It is capable of reaching a top speed of 202.3mph, faster than the Corvette C7 Z06's 198mph but slower than the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat's 204mph top speed. Performance aside, the Camaro ZL1 comes with Magnetic Ride Control suspension and standard electronic Limited-Slip Differential. As a high-performance muscle car that balances power and dynamics on the road and on the track, the new ZL1 is all business or so they say.

Customers can opt for the hardcore 1LE package which features the same performance as the normal ZL1 but with racing-based suspension and aero technologies, as well as exclusive Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R summer-only tires. That said, it is capable of lapping the Nurburgring in 7:16.04, faster than the Shelby GT350R.



I know driving the ZL1 on an oval track at Daytona is fun but it's a bit too short for the ladies and gentlemen so instead, I'm savoring the moment at the Sports Car Circuit layout of Daytona just to give a taste of what it feels like to be at home. You might think that just because it's a muscle car, it can only do drag racing, which is sucks if you're facing the likes of a Challenger Hellcat or its powerful Demon equivalent, but no. The ZL1 can get round corners in the way I can't describe it. It may not be as fast as the Hellcat or a Demon but it can outshine them in the corners because of its Nurburgring-honed dynamics, which is upsetting if you're Captain Slow. It maybe Nurburgring-honed but it is a twitchy car and it takes some concentration to get through corners with accuracy, timing, and a bit of luck.



Like I said, it sucks at straights in case of a shootout against the most powerful and fastest Challenger ever made but it's good on corners just like its big brother, the Corvette Z06. Although not on the same level as its Corvette brother, the Camaro ZL1 is all about balancing performance and dynamics in unpredictable patterns. So, now that I had my little pep talk with the ZL1, how about I save the last dance for this ride? Let's dance.





That was the best night the Camaro ZL1 ever had. As long as there are drivers like you are around, this hyper Camaro will be more than happy to face challenges ahead. Who knows, when it comes back to Daytona sometime, it wants to enjoy the competition against the opposition as long as it won't fall victim to the big one. Here's for the ZL1 stock car in future NASCAR races this year.