Corvette ZR1 Caught On Video Ahead of Debut

The 2009 Corvette ZR1 has been caught on video at America's Le Mans Series on Laguna Seca's raceway, burning rubber on what is America's premier race course track - just ahead of its Detroit Show debut in January.

Despite a number of reports maintaining an official debut was conducted on the grounds, the car did not receive an impromtu unveiling. Motor Trend instead claim that the 'Vette was snuck onto the track, undergoing a few hot laps before returning to its trailer, headed presumably for Detroit. The ZR1 follows in the footsteps of Nissan's publicity stunt with their GT-R taking to the track at Goodwood - does this spell an end to curtains-up unveilings?

Sneakily wearing the same 'Velocity Yellow' colours as its race track sibling, the ZR1 also had the now-familiar black coverings as seen in spy shots of the car - doing little to reveal its most interesting features.

Power comes from a new supercharged 6.2-litre V8 engine dubbed 'LS9', estimated to pump out in excess of 600 hp and expected to shoot the ZR1 to 60 mph in under 3.5 seconds. Lap times are unfortunately as yet under lock and key, although with news from Jalopnik of a $1000 reward for new shots of the car in the paddock and on the track at Laguna Seca, further photos and information may very well surface soon.

Priced from $100,000, the ZR1 will be entering showrooms as a 2009 model mid next year, with annual production expected to be between 1500 and 1750 units.