The Chevrolet Corvette and Porsche 911 rivalry is essentially as old as the sports cars themselves. These two automotive icons have competed on the racetrack and in the showroom for years and years, with both Chevy and Porsche constantly pushing each other to improve their respective performance offerings.
With the introduction of the mid-engine Corvette C8, the Vette is as prepared as ever to take the fight to the rear-engine 911. YouTuber Speed Phenom recently learned this first-hand when he successfully kept up with a Porsche 911 GT3 RS during a recent track day at Willow Springs Raceway in California.
Before we dive into Speed Phenom’s video, it’s worth noting that many track day attendees won’t be driving 10/10ths during these events. Track days are only intended to allow performance car owners to push the limits of their cars in a safe and legal way, and they attract a wide variety of drivers of varying skill levels. For that reason, this video isn’t a perfect indication of either of the Corvette C8’s or the Porsche 911’s outright performance.
That said, Speed Phenom does seem to be pushing his new Corvette C8 pretty hard in the video, as he’s able to keep up with the 911 GT3 RS fairly easily. This is a good sign for future Corvette C8 performance variants like the Corvette Z06, as the 911 GT3 RS is a track-focused take on the 911 with more power, bigger brakes and large downforce-producing rear wing.
The Corvette C8 in question is completely stock, although it does have the Chevrolet-recommended track wheel alignment. It is also left in automatic mode during the session, so the car is handling shift duties, allowing the driver to focus on hitting his marks and maintaining a proper racing line.
According to Car and Driver, the Porsche 911 GT3 RS would still beat the Corvette C8 in a head-to-head hot lap shootout in the hands of a pro driver. The magazine cites several performance metrics as proof, but the most important number on a track with multiple high-speed sweepers like Big Willow is lateral grip. The Corvette C8 can pull 1.03 g of lateral grip, while the Porsche puts down a monumental 1.24 g. It’s worth noting the Corvette C8 starts at $59,995, though, while the GT3 RS sells for an eye-popping $190,050.
This video also provides us with a good look at the Corvette C8’s Performance Data Recorder. This is essentially the same system as the Performance Data Recorder that was offered in the Corvette C7, but it’s interesting to see the video footage and track data playing on the Corvette C8’s infotainment screen nonetheless.
Check it out in the video embedded below.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more mid-engine Corvette news, Corvette C8 news, Corvette news, Chevrolet news, and 24/7 GM news coverage.
Comments
The first thing that one have to examine, is the price disparity between the two cars in question. While the horsepower between the C8 and the GT3 is close, we must realize that this Porsche, is a fully track prepared race car. For one, I am very glad to see the C8 with a modern dual-clutch transmission. However, we know that the GT3 transmission will change faster than the C8’s 8-speed.
The Porsche is lighter, has a more downforce and still presents a better overall aero dynamic package than the much cheaper C8 competitor. Mind you, I still love the C8 even more, even though this matchup might not be as even as we think.
The appropriate matchup, might be the C8 Hybrid or for sure the upcoming C8 ZO6. I will bet that the ZO6’s 5.5 flat-plane V-8, will definitely kick this particular Porsche’s ass in straight line speed, while being competent enough to still handle it self well in the turns, to score and overall victory. Oh, and by the way, the C8 ZO6 will still be cheaper and better looking than the GT3 RS.
.
“However, we know that the GT3 transmission will change faster than the C8’s 8-speed.”
Wait… forget “we”, how do YOU know this? Assumption because it is a Porsche?
Because this Tremec 8-speed DCT is instantaneously quick.
Easy tiger, even if the GT3’s shift speed is quicker then the C8’s. We’re talking base C8. Docile, for the average person who likes performance cars, but doesn’t really know or could tell the difference between 10 milliseconds or 500, as if any of us really could to any real extent! Or, much less knows how to drive!
On a bigger scale, this story is DAYS old!
Sorry!
Out of the box, the 2020 Chevrolet C8 Corvette is a very good car and is as predicted, a wrecking ball to the sports car market as it can out accelerate to 60 mph than the latest Lamborghini Huracan Evo that easily cost 3X as much; it’s just a matter of time before the C8 Corvette matures and is crowned the best sports car in the world as car companies around the world will need to do a serious rethink on how to compete against the Corvette.