How Does the Chevy Colorado ZR2 Do in the Longest Off-Road Race in the USA?

chevy colorado zr2 off-road race finish
Chevy Colorado ZR2 : off-road race finish

The Chevy Colorado ZR2 is a factory off-road truck with a high-tech suspension. Can this truck withstand, survive, and be successful in a full blown off-road race? How about the longest off-road race in the United States, the 539-mile long Vegas to Reno 2017?

The ZR2 was the only stock midsize pickup truck in the race, but some safety-related modifications had to be made for it to compete. The updates include:

  • roll cage
  • 44-gallon racing fuel tank
  • racing seats with safety harnesses
  • KC HiLites racing lights
  • two-way radios
  • GPS system

According to Chevrolet, 336 racing vehicles entered the race, but the ZR2 was one of just 204 machines to cross the finish line some 539 miles later. The successful completion of the race is very impressive.

The ZR2 Hall Racing team recorded a time of 18 hours, 50 minute, and 16 seconds. How does this time stack up against the others? The ZR2 was the only truck in its class. The overall race winner was driving a fully-customized off-road race truck and registered a time of 9 hours, 2 minutes, and 42 seconds. The ZR2 was faster than eleven other racers from various classes.

2017 Vegas to Reno race unofficial results.

It would be great to see the Colorado ZR2 compete against trucks in its class: Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and others.

The ZR2 package is a big step up from the standard Chevy Colorado. It is equipped with Multimatic spool valve dampers, a setup that uses intricate sharp internal openings allowing for fine tuning and precise adaption. Spool valve dampers can be found on numerous F1 race cars and exotics. The spool valve setup is amped up to take a hit and run the desert with aggression. Locking front and rear differentials ensure traction for the 3.5 inch wider ZR2 with the help of Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires. Perks include a hill-descent control and an off-road mode enabling the driver to tackle difficult obstacles.

The ZR2’s powertrain remains unchanged from the base model. The 3.6-liter V6 is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The 2.8-liter Duramax four-cylinder turbodiesel is backed up by a 6-speed automatic transmission.