Chevrolet Corvette (C8) Z06 vs Porsche 911 (992) GT3 RS: American trap

Yes, I absolutely love Corvettes, and yes, the Z06 is my favorite in our picks for Sports Car of the Year 2023. When I state that it is “absolutely objective”, my loyalty borders on that of an OM devotee. and the jury laughs. I dreamed of being able to tell all these stupid people”go ahead, judge for yourself!“, unless it’s raining hard and my pro thinks he’s in winter sports. I left the Z06 at the beginning of March 2023, with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R under warm blankets, and got it back in mid-November with Pilot Sport Alpin on his feet. Goops. In the spring of 2023, the two rivals shared the spotlight on the cover of the 110th issue of Motorsport but the American manufacturer then rejected the match. Initially he wanted to have “his moment”. And how long! I am criticized (wrong!) for being selfish about Chevrolet. So I’ll just tell the truth.

Freshly ordered in Europe, the Z06 arrived at Magny-Cours for the best performance with the tires on: road (Michelin PS4S) and track (Cup 2R). Note in passing that the cheapest and lowest priced Cup 2 is simply not approved on the car. Under the rear hood (we’re finally getting used to it), we find an all-new V8 derived from the racing C8.R. It’s atmospheric, has a flat crankshaft (Ferrari or McLaren style), takes 8,600 rpm, sings like no Corvette has ever sung and develops 645 hp… in Europe. In the US, without particulate filters and with an attractive central exhaust system, it delivers 34 more. Don’t worry, it’s the most powerful V8 aero to ever be implanted in a road car! Which, you will agree, should not be ashamed in comparison with the stratospheric flat-6 of the GT3 RS developing 525 hp and screaming at 9,000 rpm. The power difference is roughly proportional to the weight difference. With a floor space of around 10 m2 (a nice apartment in Paris), the big Z06 weighed 1,679 kg, compared to 1,495 for the Porsche. This results in the same acceleration figures but still in favor of the Americans, of course with the best profile. This requires a flow of nine and four under 0 to 200 km / h and for every thousand meters from a standing start.

Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06 pack Z07

• Engine >> V8, 5,463 cm3
• Maximum power >> 645 to 8 400 million/min
• A maxi couple >> 595 Nm at 6,300 rpm
• Maximum speed >> 8,600 tr/min
  Contagion >> propulsion, 8 double clutch
• Measured Weight (Weight/Strength) >> 1 679 kg (2.6 kg/h)
• Tire AV&AR >> 275/30 ZR 20 & 345/25 ZR 21 (Cup 2R)
• Measured performance >> 0 to 100/200 km/h 3”1 / 10″0, 400/1000 m DA in 10″7 / 20”0
• Maximum speed >> 303 km / h
• Base price / model tested >> 187 489 € / env. 230 000 €

Z06 1 – 0 GT3 RS

Needless to say, these two cars, starting with Porsche straight out of the Carrera Cup round (and even more impressive), were not made for straight line drivers. On the Club track (our reference track), each of them wore the best according to the qualifying tires approved for road use, namely the Michelin Cup 2Rs. The GT3 benefited from a better air temperature, the Z06 thanks to the electric blanket heat to compensate for the cold (7°C) which is not compatible with this type of rubber. Friend Sebastien Ullmann, owner of the famous 992 RS, of course cried lying: “Electric blankets? Why not scammers?“. Even though Chevrolet would have benefited from a small potential profit, it achieved enough to command respect: indeed 76 hundred on the 2.5 km track. At such a level, it is a lot! Although I have not been surprised by the performance of the Corvette for a long time, I agree to remain unbelievably. The Z06 replaces all the road cars timed here, apart from the McLaren Senna, which is only three-tenths off. The aggressive American punches above its weight in the slowest sections, but outpaces the Porsche in all corners. fast and this was very unexpected. Remember that the memory and active wing of the GT3 RS is not there (only) to stimulate dreams. It contributes to get 860 kg of deceleration to 285 km / h while the Z06 is satisfied with 333 to 300 km / h with a pack of Z07. The latter requires an aero kit (wing, front blade, etc.) and includes magnetically controlled suspension with custom tuning, Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, Cup 2Rs and custom-designed suspension settings. Carbon rims are more available.

Porsche 911 (992) GT3 RS

• Engine >> flat-6, 3 996 cm3
• Maximum power >> 525 to 8,500 million/mn
• A maxi couple >> 465 Nm at 6,300 rpm
• Maximum speed >> 9,000 tr/min
  Contagion >> propulsion, 7 double clutch
• Measured Weight (Weight/Strength) >> 1 495 kg (2,8 kg/ch)
• Tire AV&AR >> 275/35 ZR 20 & 335/30 ZR 21 (Cup 2R)
• Measured performance >> 0 to 100/200 km/h 3”2 / 10”9, 400/1000 m DA in 11”1 / 20”4
• Maximum speed >> 296 km/h
• Base price / model tested >> 253 454 / 324 062 €

Z06 2 – 0 GT3 RS

Porsche enthusiasts on the jury will rightly say that it is not on a circuit like the Club that the RS can use its aerodynamic treasures. Okay, but on the other hand, it’s a safe bet that at Magny GP, the Corvette would take advantage of its ability to take off between turns two. We hope to find out one day, but it won’t be today. Finally the Corvette can reach the big circuit, but only for show and to prove the amazing grip of the Pilot Sport Alpin on the flooded track as well as the amazing balance of the American.

Not wearing an R but still in Cup 2, the GT3 RS is no party in these conditions. The German, however, will take advantage of a memorable night rider session at the nearly dry Club track to showcase his incredible track racing talents, as spectacular as they are effective. On the contrary, I confirm that driving with snow tires on a dry track is not a good idea. The Z06 gives the feeling of driving on ice or having a flat tire, or both.

The power difference is roughly proportional to the weight difference

Except for the “tires”, the match would have been top notch. That said, the inability to reach and exceed 1.2 g in a curve does not prevent us from delving into the spirit of each car and taking a measure of the gulf that separates them, philosophically speaking. Our drunken escape through the Nivernais countryside reveals a quiet and comfortable Corvette in ideal driving condition. We can easily imagine traveling far and wide, sitting comfortably in the original and neat cockpit of this excellent GT. I almost forgot the feats are able to track. The weather was not easy for him, but during the calm, we pushed the vice to remove the carbon roof (in a few seconds), put it in the trunk and take full advantage of the V8 yaps and fun. of driving in the great outdoors.

At the wheel of the GT3 RS, there’s no room for romance. It’s loud, brutal, exciting and nothing else. Even twisting the buttons on the steering wheel like a modern F1 driver, it’s impossible to find anything other than high-quality dirt. Whatever your mood, the Porsche engages you with its unfiltered steering and unyielding chassis in a body-to-body battle that makes it a sports car that’s certainly complex but incredibly refined. And what about that ominous screeching sound when the needle hits number 9 on the rev counter? That it is more attractive than that of the Vette – no doubt about it – but not necessarily better. Although slightly restrained – all things considered – by European standards, the Chevrolet V8 revs much lower than a Porsche flat-6 or an Audi V10. There are even a few of us who remember the atmosphere of Maranello. If the box is not at the level of the PDK of the 911, it will not spoil the party. In short, we shake, we shake, we also sweat behind the wheel of the Z06, but less or rather very differently than behind the wheel of the RS. While the rest of the team took on water at Lurcy-Lévis, we skied a bit (very well). For what subjects? That we must be a little careful about the severity of the V8 Corvette when stimulating the slide and the finesse of the balance of the Porsche. But still? That we are better off sitting in the heat, seeing the track through the side window and the air engines screeching behind our necks, than standing under the ships, hearing them go by.

The Z06 changes atoms for all timed road cars, apart from the McLaren Senna by only three tenths.