C8 Corvette Throws Down Titanium Gauntlet Against Lexus GS

Packing only a titanium exhaust system, one C8 Corvette takes the fight to drift-missile Lexus GS built by Hoonigan Hertrech Eugene Jr.

The C8 Corvette is perfect as-is out of the box, especially with the Z51 package checked off. However, like all ‘Vettes before, the aftermarket is already working on getting more out of the mid-engine wonder. The holy grail, of course, is cracking the ECU to get the power out. For now, though, things like nitrous, turbos, and headers will need to do.

Or, in this case, a brand-new titanium exhaust system. Rolling up to the Hoonigans’ favorite airstrip, Ryan Fellows of Ikon Performance brought a super-new C8 Corvette to face none other than Hertrech Eugene Jr’s upgraded Lexus GS. One’s more or less stock, the other’s a drift machine. Which one can handle the drag, though?

“Initially, this was gonna be a really chill budget NAT setup,” said Eugene Jr. “That was the original plan ’cause I have a history of spiraling out of control with my builds. Then, I started to look at the numbers, and people were saying, ‘Yeah! You can make 500, no problem!’ And other people were like, ‘You’ll blow up after 400 horsepower.’”

An engine swap and a few mods later, though, and Eugene Jr. had a Lexus capable of over 600 horses, all designed to drift all the way to victory lane. However, there’s a mighty C8 Corvette with just one mod ready to show-up the cambered superstar.

“I brought my backup vehicle,” said Fellows. “We ended up bringing this one […] Last night, we just finished our titanium exhaust, which is the first one in the world where it’s full pie-cut titanium. It’s the most gorgeous exhaust you’ll ever see.”

The new exhaust is a featherweight at just seven pounds, compared to the 50-pound OEM setup. And of course, when racing, lightness is everything. Not to mention the sound the new exhaust makes, giving the LT2 V8 a louder roar like never before. Looks like Eugene Jr. will be hearing plenty of this C8 Corvette from behind.

Once the pair lined up for the first dig, the Lexus got the launch, but the C8 Corvette swept it all away to take the win down the full 1,500-foot run. Eugene Jr. would get the next win on the first roll, though, but only due to two factors: he jumped the gun, and Fellows kept hitting the rev limiter while shifting manually. Thus, it would be down to the final roll to determine who had the better car.

“It’s really hard for an old car with no technology, besides a stand-alone shifter, to race a new car,” said Hoonigan Vinny Atara.

Not only did the C8 Corvette land the decisive blow in the final dig in full auto, it took the bonus hit plus one car, too. All in a day’s work for America’s sports car, even if it can’t (yet) drift like the Lexus.

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