Now that the 2020 Corvette C8 is rolling out for delivery, eager tuners are already throwing it around to see what it’ll do in preparation for future performance mods. Texas-based speed pros Hennessey Performance is no different, recently posting video that shows the company’s factory stock coupe out for some laps at the Circuit of the Americas race track.
“Just a few days ago, Hennessey’s 2020 C8 Corvette was still in stock form,” reads the video description. “As part of our baseline data collection process, the car was driven to Circuit of the Americas (COTA) outside of Austin, TX, where it was driven by 15-time SCCA national champion, John Heinricy.”
The video is a little under four minutes long, but does provide some slick footage of the new 2020 Corvette doing its thing at COTA. Heinricy clearly knows his way around an apex or two, running the new Vette to its limit without too much drama. The track looks a bit greasy, but the Hennessey crew manage to put down a quick time regardless, posting a 2:33.60 best lap in the first session.
It’s awesome to hear the new 2020 Corvette finally unleashed, with the naturally aspirated 6.2L LT2 V8 just behind the driver’s seat zinging up to redline and crackling on downshifts. The abundance of camera views is also nice, including from the windshield, from the driver’s perspective, a fender cam, and a wide view from inside the cabin. We also get to see throttle and brake inputs, plus a horizontal tach.
Up next, Hennessey is looking to throw a set of turbochargers in back, boosting the new 2020 Corvette C8 up to a maximum of 1,200 horsepower. Stick around for the end of the video to hear the freshly turbo’d C8 throw down some revs.
Are you excited to see what Hennessey can do with the new C8? Let us know in the comments, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more mid-engine Corvette news, Corvette C8 news, Corvette news, Chevrolet news, 24/7 GM news coverage.
Comments
Toss the turbo charger idea. Turbos are way too complicated and prone to have trouble! Instead have Hennessy use Superchargers! Easy to install and NO THROTTLE LAG!
Superchargers cause parasitic loss. Turbo’s aren’t that complicated…
I was at Circuit of the Americas a couple weeks ago at Audi Pro Driver School. The lap time by the C8 is impressive – and here’s why. My instructor did what they call a hot lap at the end of the course to show us just how fast a race car driver could make an Audi R8 go around the track. This is essentially a Lamborghini Huracan as the two share the same chassis and engine. Our R8’s had 602 HP. I had to time the laps using only 9/10ths of the course since we did lead/follow changes on the front straight. So the lap times are only relative to each other. The C8 did 2:04 driven by John Heinricy, the R8 2:02 when driven by my instructor, Scott. I did a 2:08. When the base Corvette in Z51 trim can turn laps approaching that of a much more mature mid-engine car with 108 more HP – that’s impressive. I’ve got the GoPro videos on my YouTube channel if any of the Corvette bloggers want to compare the two cars in detail.
The biggest difference I saw was that I could get 158 MPH out of the Audi where the C8 topped at 150…
This Wayne S. is very cool C8 content with a nice base of information and then the breakdown. I appreciate you taking the time and trouble to put this info out here for all of us to take a look at. In a sense, for the average Joe (or Jill) this is an amazing opportunity for Americans to get hold of a true super car. Of course there are upgrades and Z06’s and cars all the way to Zora. And some people will get them just so they can have them. But to be able to jump into a Z51 for under 80K and then go out and take a stock C8 around the track and approach times that rival an Audi or a Lamborghini top dog, is truly without parallel in automotive history. All those waiting for Z06’s or for 2021’s, etc.: Just a notice: You and Conti are still dreamin’ while we’re out of the road drivin’. That’s why America is great. I love choice! AF