Chevrolet’s Performance Data Recorder coaches you how to drive your Corvette faster

Dashcam: An onboard camera fitted to the front windscreen of a car, prevalent amongst Russians where the courts prefer video evidence of one’s foolishness rather than blind testimony. Driving enthusiasts often stick GoPros to the windshield to achieve a similar effect, most with an aim to document their unsurpassed awesomeness behind the wheel.

But short of watching an HD video and bragging to their friends about how they were “totally flat out in turn two,” it doesn’t offer much in terms of information that can help a track day warrior improve their lap time.

For that, you need an expensive vBox, something only the most hardcore trackgoers would ever buy. But Chevrolet, in an industry first, has developed what it calls a Performance Data Recorder (PDR), capable of recording video, audio and on-track telemetry just like — and in many cases more thoroughly than — the systems used by pro race teams.

It’s now optional on the 2015 Corvette Stingray. And we’ve tested it on track at Sebring raceway in Florida.

The 720p HD camera is hidden within the windshield header trim, and all wiring comes integrated into the Corvette’s interior. There’s an external microphone concealed in the cabin to pick up audio. When you start the car, you have an option to select PDR in the center touch screen. There, you’re presented with four layouts for recording:

Track Mode – this overlays all the data available over a video of you driving, like in a videogame. This includes speed, rpm, g-force, track map, lap time, throttle and brake position, gear selection and more.

Sport Mode – this ditches some metrics but keeps key statistics like speed and g-force.

Touring Mode – this simply records the drive and offers no overlaid data, just like a GoPro.

Performance Mode – for the dragster in you, this records metrics such as 0-60 mph runs, quarter mile speed/time, and 0-100-0 mph runs.

The video you see below is of my run in the new Corvette around Sebring, with PDR set to Track Mode. Just insert an SD card into a tucked away reader, click record on the infotainment screen, put the car into gear, and off you go.

Disclaimer: we only received three laps on-track and I had no idea which way the full circuit went. Please keep the racing critiques to a minimum, thankyouverymuch.

As you can see the detailed metrics on-screen are impressive. In fact, I’d say it’s better than vBox (and you don’t have wires everywhere). The clarity on the video is nice, but the vignettes are a little over bearing and the audio is plain terrible. It sounds like the microphone is shoved up the nether region of a hamster.