Located in Keystone Heights, less than 100 miles from our home base, the FIRM offers a 1.6-mile course that’s safe, repeatable and accessible.
The track features a mix of medium- and slower-speed corners, and most of it is run in third and fourth gear–aside from the second-gear hairpin. It also features longer sweepers that test steady-state grip as well as traditional road course kinks that test braking, turn-in and corner exit.
We’ve tested a number of cars at the FIRM–including hot new rides, old favorites and our project cars–and we’re constantly adding to the list.
Keep reading for synopses of each car tested–fastest to slowest–and scroll down for an easy-to-digest chart at the bottom.
2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06–LS3 V8 engine swap
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
- Fastest lap: 1:13.71
- Date tested: April 30, 2022
- Notes:
- GRM project car.
- Fitted with an older set of Hoosier A7 tires.
- 88 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature.
- Dry track conditions.
2022 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT w/ Z51 Performance Package
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
- Fastest lap: 1:16.16
- Date tested: January 14, 2022
- Notes:
- New car as delivered.
- Fitted with Pilot Sport 4S ZP tires.
- 65 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature.
- Dry track conditions.
2004 Nissan 350Z–LS1 V8 engine swap
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
- Fastest lap: 1:16.79
- Date tested: April 23, 2021
- Notes:
- GRM project car
- Fitted with racing slicks
- Fitted with With Nine Lives Racing rear wing, rain setup sway bars and stock front bumper
- Dry track conditions
2021 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible 2LT
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
- Fastest lap: 1:19.16
- Notes:
Photography Credit: J.G. Pasterjak
- Fastest lap: 1:19.59
- Date tested: January 5, 2020
- Notes:
- New car as delivered
- Fitted with street tires
- 59 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature
- Dry track conditions
2019 Mazda MX-5–Triple Threat Miata
- Fastest lap: 1:20.20
- Notes:
- GRM project car
- Fitted with Falken RT660 tires
1996 Mazda Miata–LFX V6 engine swap
Photography…
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