Even with traction issues, front-engine Corvette overthrows mid-engine Lamborghini.
The video above comes to us from the Henessey Performance YouTube channel and it features a drag race between a 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and a late model Lamborghini Huracan LP580-2 Spyder. Even though the Lamborghini costs nearly twice as much as the ZR1, the power of the supercharged, American V8 proves to be far too much for the Raging Bull’s V10.
The Lamborghini has its shot early in the race, but once the Corvette driver got the tires to grip, the battle quickly turned into a beating for the Huracan.
The Competitors
The Corvette and the Huracan in this video are both stock. The ZR1 belongs to a customer of Hennessey, who has dropped the car off for an 1,200-horsepower upgrade package. In the meantime, it “only” has the stock power figures of 755 horsepower and 715 lb-ft of torque, with the power being channeled to the rear wheels by means of an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The Lamborghini Huracan LP580-2 is owned by Freedom Supercars, a Houston-based subscription service that offers members a chance to drive some of the world’s greatest performance cars without the full cost of ownership. Their packages range from $1,000 per month to $3,800 per month and members can chose from a long list of vehicles from brands including Ferrari, McLaren, Rolls Royce, Bentley, Lamborghini and many more. It should be noted that this company currently does not list any Chevrolet products in their portfolio.
This particular Lamborghini is powered by a naturally-aspirated, 5.2-liter V10 that sends 572 horsepower and 393 lb-ft of torque towards the rear wheels by means of a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox.
The Corvette has a gigantic power advantage, but the Lamborghini weighs quite a bit less, tipping the scales at just 3,327 pounds to the ZR1’s weight of 3,560 pounds. Additionally, it has the traction advantage of being mid-engined. Will that difference be enough to give the Huracan a real chance at the win?
The Race
The new Corvette ZR1 and Huracan LP580-2 race from a dig and at first, the Lamborghini takes the early lead when the Chevy spins the tires through first gear. However, as soon as the Chevy’s rear tires grip and the driver can make use of all of that supercharged power, the race is over in a hurry.
Once the Corvette begins the big pull, it blows past the Lambo and just rolls off into the distance, beating the Huracan by a comfortable margin.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
