A Track Day Showdown.
Shootouts between high-performance sports cars are a thrill for enthusiasts, but rarely do they involve direct comparisons between highly modified racers and stock vehicles. Enter Andy Voelkel, a Time Attack champion, and his dad Bret, who decided to settle the score by putting their three prized machines—a race-prepped C8 Z51 Corvette, a stock C8 Z06, and a stock Porsche Turbo S—through their paces at the track.
The Contenders
- C8 Z51 Corvette (Race-Prepped): Andy’s championship-winning car from the Gridlife Time Attack series. Modified with extensive aero and suspension upgrades, it’s built to dominate lap times.
- Stock C8 Z06 Corvette: The track-focused monster from Chevrolet, featuring a naturally aspirated 5.5L flat-plane V8 delivering 670 horsepower.
- Stock Porsche Turbo S: A twin-turbocharged powerhouse with 640 horsepower, known for its all-wheel-drive traction and blistering acceleration.
The Rules
To ensure consistency, Andy took the wheel of all three cars, running them back-to-back on the same track. The goal? To determine which car performed the best in a head-to-head comparison of lap times, handling, and overall driving experience.
The Results
- Race-Prepped C8 Z51 Corvette: As expected, the heavily modified car set the benchmark with its purpose-built setup for Time Attack racing. Its lightweight design, aggressive aero, and tuned suspension allowed Andy to push it to the limits, securing the fastest lap of the day.
- Stock C8 Z06 Corvette: While not modified, the Z06 proved its mettle, coming remarkably close to the Z51's times. Its sharp handling, screaming flat-plane V8, and advanced suspension system demonstrated why it’s a favorite among track enthusiasts.
- Porsche Turbo S: The Turbo S excelled in straight-line speed, leveraging its all-wheel-drive system to deliver insane acceleration off the line. However, it couldn’t match the C8s in terms of cornering and overall lap times, highlighting the Porsche's slight disadvantage in a track-focused setting.
The Surprising Takeaway
While the race-prepped C8 Z51 was the clear winner, the stock C8 Z06’s performance was astonishingly close, proving that Chevrolet’s engineers have created a track weapon right out of the factory. The Porsche Turbo S, while impressive, showed its strengths in acceleration rather than lap-time supremacy, making it more suitable for drag racing than tight, technical tracks.
Conclusion
This shootout demonstrated the impressive capabilities of modern performance cars. The C8 Z06 stands out as a stock marvel that nearly rivals a race-prepped car, while the Porsche Turbo S remains a high-tech supercar with jaw-dropping speed. For those seeking track day glory, the C8 Z06 offers an unbeatable blend of price, performance, and thrills.