Hot Florida temps will bring power down, but tires are the culprit in this case. In one of those runs you can hear the tires scream for mercy (that's why I searched in the video to see what tire he was running). He is way slow in the turns and coming out of them. In one of his run you can see him backing off after a wiggle. Clearly has traction issues. He has the big wing, which would indicate it's a ZTK car and that comes from GM with Cup2 tires. The screenshot I posted clearly shows the car does NOT have Cup2 tires (at least on the left front). I also suspect he turned off traction control and active handling which hurt him (he's not really smooth and too late to accelerate out of the turns).

 

Track has been beaten up quite a bit with dozens, if not hundreds of runs that day. So I imagine that could've impacted the launches. I agree that the ZR1 should've taken it on the back straight, if it was a bit longer I think the ZR1 would've done so.

I can't imagine there was any heat soak on the ZR1. Those cars are meant to be driven and abused at long race tracks. Back-to-back runs at a small donut "track" is nothing for it.

 

My impression was the ZR1 driver is either not very good or wasn't trying. I've seen pros in Miatas beat average drivers in Corvettes. In this case, the challenges of keeping all that ZR1 power stuck to the pavement no doubt causes many less experienced but cautious drivers to back off more than they probably need to.

 

​​​​​​The C8 Z51 run the Pilot 4S that come on the car at Spring Mountain.

 

I stand corrected. I assumed incorrectly that the Z51 package comes with Cup2 tires

 

This is laughable to me.

 

I own a C8 HTC and really like it a lot. That being said it is easy to look up track times with professional drivers behind the wheel and the C7 ZR1 destroys the C8. It is not even close. Heck, the C7 Grand Sport manual beats the C8 on a track. Check this link and you will see the C8, driven by Randy Pobst, is #33 and is beaten by the C7 GS, Z06 and ZR1. The ZR1 is also driven by Randy and is #8.

https://fastestlaps.com/tracks/willow-springs

Again, I own the C8 and truly think it is a great car. It is the best all around sports car GM has ever made. Great on the street, as a daily driver, and great on the track. It does not even come close to the ZR1 on a track though. On a track the ZR1 is in a different league.

 

if I am not mistaken, I believe the ZR1 may have cost a few bucks more, 750hp and built for that purpose. Was a great car and over MSRP. at most stores if you could even get one. That’s when the zO6 and GS were deeply discounted. Compare the ZR1 to the C8 ZO6 or the model after that

 

This is correct

 

This is correct!

 

Can it be that C8 is very easy to drive fast vs zr1? also add to that the C8 is a good driver and zr1 seems not so good driver, and according to earlier posts the driver turned off all driving aides and wasn't able to handle it. So in this case the C8 is much faster.

 

It really comes down to the C8 rear midengine architecture and advantages over the C7 platform. I'm grabbing motortrend 1/4 mile stats here for consistency (same source, same testing methodology):

C8: 11.1 seconds, 123.2 mph
C7 ZR1: 11.0 seconds, 131.8 mph.
So the elapsed time is very close (0.1s difference) but the trap speed has a major advantage to the C7. The only way this is possible is that the C8 is much faster off the line due to the architecture (C7 is traction limited). You will see this in a road course manifest as the C8 taking corners faster and exiting corners faster than the C7 for low to moderate speed corners (where the traction advantage is to be had). Motortrend did a great comparison between a GT500 and the C8 at VIR (if I recall correctly) that clearly showed the handling and acceleration out of corners favored the C8. The GT500 then walked away on high speed straights. It's the same thing with the C7 ZR1 and the C8. I can't find it now, but I did see an instrumented comparison between the C7 ZR1 and the C8 and up to ~80mph the C8 had the advantage. Then the ZR1 had a tremendous advantage beyond that. If there is a low to moderate speed track with much time spend below 100mph, then the C8 is going to be pretty competitive with the ZR1. If not, the ZR1 will walk away with the HP advantage.

To be honest, if we didn't see this advantage with the C8 architecture, then GM blew it. This was expected and the entire reason for going to the new architecture. The upcoming Z06 and ZR1 (assuming that happens) will also benefit this and put all that power to much better use than the old architecture.

 

the ZO6 and what ever comes after that will be a horse of a different color. Comparing a base C8 to the ZR1 is ridiculous. Traction very important. Then add in HP and Torque. Imagine fitting in 750 HP in the C8. Then ADC on a electric motor in the front with AWD. I will not sell my house to buy it

 

I would add another advantage of the C8 under 80 mph is the gearing and the DCT. Beyond 80 mph the horsepower and major torque advantage of the ZR1 makes a big difference. For low speed autocross the C8 shines. In this thread example the other factor was the ZR1's standard Cup2 tires were not used. A good driver with the stock Cup2 tires most definitely would have won.