Any car that could get through one lap on the Virginia International Raceway “Grand Course” in less than three minutes is simply amazing. Driven by Camaro engineer Aaron Link, the 2013 road-racing inspired Chevrolet Camaro 1LE completed the lap in 2:58.34 – a time set previously by just the upper level of performance cars. The 1LE package for the Camaro 1SS and 2 SS coupes is available with a manual transmission and costs $3,500. Meanwhile, a Camaro 1SS with the 1LE package has a starting price of $37,035, including destination charges. As a result, it has become one of the least expensive, most capable performance cars that the automaker has ever offered.
Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer, said that the Camaro 1LE has the best features of the SS and the ZL1 with a concentration on handling. He said that each part of the SS was given a boost to have improved track driving, such as gear ratios, suspension tuning, and chassis mounts. The resulting product is the Camaro SS appears to have been refreshed at each turn.
Oppenheiser said that the Camaro 1LE is $10,000 lower than its nearest rival. When riding e1LE, the 1LE will the cover a lot of days at the track.” Oppenheiser said that the VIR Grand Course configuration is a challenge for production cars because recording a fast lap requires extraordinary power, precise handling and tenacious grip. He said that the three-minute lap on the four-mile Grand Course is an “incredible accomplishment” for any car. He said that at Nurburgring, at VIR there’s never a moment when the car rests at steady state. Each lap tests every aspect of a car, including power, brakes, steering, tire grip and chassis balance.
