Why is a C8 Stingray faster/quicker than a C6 Z06. 2.9 vs 3.6 sec 0-60 as I understand it.
Balance, gearing? Certainly not weight.

 

Traction, weight over the rear tires. Plain and simple. Try a roll race.

 

Because it's an automatic with launch control and better weight distribution versus a front-engine manual car that is highly dependent on the driver's capability.

 

weight transfer & transmission in the C8, lightning quick.

 

0-60 is mostly a traction test.

 

For road race I think the c6 Z is in for the win over even the c8 Z... Just saw the headline article here new c8 Z best lap at VIR was about 1:59.. googled a bit and found a c6 Z running a 1:58

Lighter is faster... You also can find a modded c6 Z 9.5 sec 1/4 mile run a few posts here too

 

Pro driven C8 Z06 holds all time production car lap record at Mosport (aka CTMP), at 1:22.12 by Ron Fellows.
Faster than previous Porsche GT2RS

and in 2015 Ron ran an similarly unbelievable 1:26 in a bone stock C7 Z06 with Z07 pkg on MPSC2 ZP. That car had a manual transmission.

I chatted Ron up about both of these, and he said the cars were not ringers....just a proper track alignment, and single warm up lap.

My best in my stock(ish) C6 Z06 is a high 1:32, on R888R at the time (I 'may' be a little faster on AR-1 now...say -1 sec).
That's 6 sec slower than the C7Z, and 10 sec slower than the C8Z. Its in a different time zone, pushing IMSA GTD lap times

Interestingly, top speed on my C6Z on the 1/2 mile back-straight is about same as the 650hp C7 Z06 (lots of aero drag), and only a smidgen lower than the much faster C8 Z06 which has even more aero drag.

Mosport is a VERY fast track and has the highest average speed of any track in north america.
The time made up with the newer cars is mostly in the long sweepers where they have more downforce (less lift?), and obviously, their OE tire compounds are amazing...especially on the new C8 Z06. The C8 Z06 also goes deeper under braking...

I'm not comparing myself by any stretch of the imagination to Ron, but I do have at least a thousand laps at Mosport, including 2 time attack wins and 4 race wins (different cars of course), and I have run down a pro-driven C8 Z51 in my C6 Z.

There is simply no comparison to the newer cars...they have better aero, e-diff, tires, and are much much smarter. It would take a lot of $$$ to modify a C6 Z06 to be able to keep up to a well driven C8 Z06 and it would no longer be a street car.

A C7 Z06 is a more reasonable target, where the 6 sec gap was broken down during our conversation to;
4 sec aero/suspension/tires/e-diff smart PTM and 2 sec for Ron...give take

...and this from someone who loves his C6Z, and does not lust after the newer cars (and I've sampled both a C7 Z06 and C8 Z51 on track...they're better...but not funner)

 

Thanks for the interest and comments.. here in AZ two of the fastest cars on track are c6 Z06s..

both running Pirelli slicks, both with large rear wings and large splitters.. i think also with 3-way Penske.. (yes definitely not streetable with the slicks and splitters)

No doubt these are a slight step up from stock, but the accessories match the application.

Its been a few months since ive been out to an event but last time out the c8s were behind the fast built c5 Zs..

I know aero is atleast 3-4 sec and tires i can only guess 3-4 or more a lap..

All tracks not equal, all days not equal, definitely all drivers not equal..

just thought it interesting what was reported here at VIR, c8 Z with slicks and pads new pr is slower than a c6 Z with slicks and pads(prob aero too).. not sure the validity of this, but sounds reasonable from my limited experience

I should add ive never seen a c8 Z on the track so i personally cant say who was faster on that perfect storm of events we call a track day

Happy tracking!

 

Adding to this:

I think the plain and simple reason the c6 Z is a better track car, when outfitted as described above, is weight... a heavier car will overload tires faster.. and depending on where the weight is, eg front heavy, will upset the balance of the car.

c6 Z 3180 lbs
c7 Z 3520 lbs
c8 Z 3774 lbs

Its alot easier to adjust and balance a 3100lb car vs a 3700lb car... Going out on a limb here but the c7 Z and c8 Z are steps backwards in terms of a pure race car.. and steps forwards in terms of a street car, ie why in stock form they outperform the c6 Z

 

Umm…Auto vs Manual is the biggest give away. I’ve beaten a C6 Z from a dig in my C6 LS3 auto lol

 

I know this is a Captain Obvious statement, but tires are everything. One cannot really compare a car with factory tires, or even UHP summer tires, against any sort of road course slick or a Hoosier DOT (A7/R7) for that matter.

Driver is next of course. A great driver in a Spec Miata can school a mediocre driver in a Corvette on lap times. I would get the car that appeals to you and/or your wallet because unless you are a pro driver chances are your skill level is a much bigger deal than the car. Really, no offense here, I'm speaking as an HPDE Instructor. I would get the C6 and spend the money you saved on track time and instruction. You will be faster in the end.