Just last week, we covered Hennessey’s record-setting 205-MPH run in the new 2020 Corvette C8. Now, we’re getting a behind-the-scenes look at what went down to make the run happen.
Set at the Continental Tires Proving Grounds in Uvalde, Texas, the Hennessey team is onsite to push their new 2020 Corvette as far as it’ll go. After unloading the Vette and shooting some photos, the team then preps the car by installing cameras in the cabin and on the body, as well as doing a quick oil change.
The Hennessey 2020 Corvette is equipped with a stainless steel exhaust system, and a Nitrous Express kit, the latter of which adds 135 horsepower to the equation. It’s a potent combo, and promises to add some serious MPH when unleashed.
At the helm is GM development driver John Heinricy, a.k.a. “Heinrocket.” Sitting shotgun is popular YouTuber TheStradman, who attempts to document the experience without getting in the way.
The first run is impressive, laying down 195 mph. However, the team isn’t satisfied, and decides to modify the car’s rear end by removing the rear wing included with the optional Z51 Performance Package. The wing makes downforce, but also creates a lot of drag, so without it, Hennessey’s upgraded 2020 Corvette C8 should have the clean profile needed to punch through the 200-mph barrier.
And punch through it does, laying down a run at 205 mph. The run looks a little hairy from inside the cockpit, as the Continental Tires Proving Grounds is apparently not some ultra-smooth race surface. Rather, the road looks to be closer to something found in “the real world,” which means Heinricy has his work cut out for him.
Even so, the car and crew walk away with a new record. Up next, Hennessey says it’s working on a new twin-turbo kit for the 2020 Corvette C8, and once we get eyeballs on that, we’re sure a new top speed run will follow.
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Comments
Hennessey’s achievement of 205 mph in a C8 Corvette would be more interesting if it featured a twin-turbo or supercharged enhanced engine instead of just a bottle of NO2 and new exhaust to prove that some actual engineering went into the project because YouTube is filled with people with NO2 injected C8 Corvettes.
Hennessey is all hype over substance. I’ve seen some of the work from his shop and it was pretty shoddy.
The top speed of a stock non mutilated C8 is 194mph. The Nitrous kit just made the C8 go 1mph faster:195mph! That’s about $3G expense, give or take, for how much gain? 1mph? It transpires from the video (IMHO) that reducing drag is better than installing a Nitrous kit, with the related price tag, the related damages to the engine, and the related voiding of the warranty. Finally, it transpires from the video that, again, is better to improve racing dynamics( reducing drag) than increasing raw power.
Along with an attempt to find purpose built tires, made for the exact type of tracxking, sprints, Zero to 60, quarter mile times and top speed. AF
Pretty amateurish video intro. How do you think it looks when you’re chewing gum and talking on camera?
I would have expected more from Hennessey’s promotional team.
Leaning on the fender of a new C8 to do tuning with no fender cover? Please show some respect!