Rinaldo Catria

We are pretty well assured that Spring Mountain will be getting some early C8’s and wringing the snot out of them. From my recent experience there in the ZR1, I highly doubt the early ME cars will pose any threat to the ZR1 or the Z06. Only time will tell in later years just how much time can be cut off the current “King of the Hill’s” times. I don’t for a minute DOUBT the high output ME will eventually be faster, but I don’t think it will be significantly faster. From a driver skill perspective however, IMO the C8 will be easier to get those quick times however.

K-TownMike

Saying that the base car won't outperform the outgoing king of the hill isn't exactly profound thinking. The C8 is going to be down over 200 hp, and not have as aggressive aero or suspension. The top dog C8 whatever it ends up being will be significantly faster than the ZR1, I'm sure. I do agree that it will likely be easier to achieve the times in the C8.

Rinaldo Catria

. It all depends on how significant your definition of the word significant is. The base C8 will not be track faster than a Z06/Z07 either IMO.

Donatella

Don't know how true this is and it might only be rumors, but I was told by a 'little birdie' that the base C8 turned faster lap times around Spring Mountain than the Z06...Take it for what it's worth....

oregonsharkman

I don't think anyone would be surprised if the base C8 is slower on the track than a C7 Z06 or Zr1.

I think the real question will be, is a C8 "Z51" equivalent faster around a track than a C7 Grand Sport?

Rinaldo Catria

.. if it is true, they took extra pains not to get seen doing it because that complex is in plain view to lots of “civilians” who aren’t sworn to secrecy to anyone. You can see it from the main highway west out of Las Vegas.

Garret

I believe part of this will be the driver because when I was there driving the C6 ZR1s the trainers were killing us in a Camaro of all things I have no doubt the C8 might do better than a Z06. It's not all about HP ya know

PCMIII

That is why Mary Barra said the C7 Z06 "paved the way" for the C8. The Z06 will be discontinued when the C8 arrives.

Foosh

She was talking about the C7 having paved the way, not in particular the Z06 variant. When she referred to "this iconic car," she meant it is iconic because it will be the last C7 built, which just so happens to be a Z06.

You have a strange propensity to project meaning into words that isn't there.

RapidC84B

The C7 Z51 runs the same lap times as the C6 Z06 stock for stock, but a huge part of that is the MPSS tires on the C7 vs. the C6's GY Eagles. Even with small 245/285s the C7 is fast.

I'd wager the new C8 "Z51" will be on par with the C7 Z06 on track. It should be lighter and the DCT trans will take a good chunk out of lap times via a few things:

1. Shift times (If every shift is worth 1/10th, it adds up)
2. Shift locations - You'll be able to shift coming out of turns where it may have been difficult to take a hand off the wheel before
3. Driver comfort/focus - Not having to take your hands off the wheel or work a clutch allows you to mentally focus on driving and will allow more people to left foot brake.

Personally, I've been HPDEing since 2002 and racing since 2011. Now I'm back to TTing my C7. The active rev match has improved my braking as I can now avoid even thinking about heel-toe. Being 6'3" to heel toe I had to brake with the left side of the ball of my right foot, then roll my foot over to blip the gas. Now I can stand on the brakes in the center of the pedal with the meat of my foot. I can brake later and more confidently. Little things add up.

Kodiak Bear

I really hope you're right on the " should be lighter:" Really, really hope.

D K

That's not necessarily true.

The only reason why I say it is not ABSOLUTELY true is because the C7 is already a mid engine.

Mid engine cars have less polar inertia and that makes them harder to drive at the limit.


Usually...

Les

Well stated!

TXshaggy

The C8 ME car has a better polar moment of inertia because the single engine/trans unit has been moved near the center and that allows the vehicle to change directions more quickly. Having the engine and trans in the back will also increase the rear bias and help put power down better

While the C7 is a front ME with a near 50/50 F/R balance it is balanced with trans mass in the rear...the moment arm between these weights makes it less maneuverable.

Skid Row Joe

The only way to find out is to compare your ZR1 times against a C8's. Do you have a log of your best times?



.

RPMaddiction

The comments in here caught me off guard. People credit power way too much with regard to lap times or 'being faster'. If you've road raced against mixed GT, you know without a doubt that a good driver in a light, well balanced, well sorted car at 400 HP can absolutely keep up with a good driver in a 600 HP car with average characteristics - on a road course. I'll ignore the straight-line debate all day as I just don't think that matters on a machine like the Corvette. It's not a drag racer. Well, except for the straight sections on the track, which may just bring this HP deficit into play. However even then, a superior setup could actually turn that straight into an advantage by turning in sooner to effective give the car a longer straight than a car that lumbers around the turn before the straight section. I see it many times a month when an under powered Pcar carves up the turn before the straight and beats a 650hp ponycar to the next turn by extending his straightaway.

This M8 chassis will likely out perform the C7 in all but the richest of offering, and that's with a 480-520HP LT2. When the C8Z is released? Forget about it. All you need is DSSV's & aero and you won't even need the wild DOHC engine to beat the C7 ZR1. Power to weight. Balance. Handling. There's a very good reason this architecture was chosen to carry the brand forward. I am beyond thrilled for the opportunity to turn laps in this car. I just hope there are no letdowns. I may be the only person here who smiles when there is a delay. Get it right GM. Get it right.

RapidC84B

I would hope the base C8 is lighter than the piggie C7 Z06, I'm really hoping it's lighter than a C7 Z51 which is 3,444 wet, but not holding my breath either. I would be ecstatic if they got back to C5/6 Z06 weight around 3,100 lbs but I think those days are gone.

jvp

Your opinion doesn't matter here, of course. It doesn't matter in the least. Opinions are opinions, and facts are facts. The history of the new generation cars has been: the Z51 version of the base car has not beaten but has nipped at the heals of the outgoing Z06. So while it may not "track faster" than the Z06, it'll be less expensive by a shot (MSRP) and the Z06 driver will be driving his mirrors.

There's no reason to believe this go'round will be any different.

Rinaldo Catria

I’m says the instructors at Spring Mountain including former Indy Car driver Richie Hearn were GAGA over the performance and capability of the ZR1. With a pro driving the car I had all I could do to hang on. He cut 15 seconds off my barely sub 2 minute times, during which the car stuck so well I was totally blown away. My conclusion is that these guys are really good actors in their praise of the ZR1 or it really is going to be a big lift for the C8 to surpass on the track... and it wont be the base model doing it IMO. If it does, I will bow at it’s altar. I don’t expect it to be lighter than the C7. The fact that the ZR1 does so well on the track against Euro big $ mid engines exotics is my final argument. I don’t mean to slight the Z06 here. Its a hell of a track car too. Keep in mind while we “students” were lapping in ZR1’s, the instructors were easily staying ahead of us in Z06’s.

RapidC84B

If the new C8 has 500 horse and the DCT it (it being the Z51) will get around a track faster than a C7 Z06... nearly guarantee it. The trans will make up for any power deficit and the Z06's 650 horse is severely neutered after a few laps when it starts to pull timing.

Interesting observation from VIR last summer in my Stingray in the instructor group vs. two ZL1 camaros (same LT-4). First few laps they'd put buses on me on the straights. After 3 laps it was a dead heat drag race between my 460 horse LT1 and their cars with reduced timing.