Thanks to the C8, Corvettes are Now Welcome at Exotic Car Rallies

America’s Sports Car rubs shoulders with European royalty at a supercar rally.

The 2020 C8 Corvette checks most of the boxes for an exotic sports car. It’s got world-glass performance. The engine is in the middle. It’s built in a specialized facility. It draws attention everywhere it goes. Still, a lot of folks are just getting used to the idea of America’s Sports Car playing with the big boys.

“The big boys,” in this case, are high-end machines from the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce and McLaren. One YouTuber, Speed Phenom, was recently invited to attend an exclusive exotic car rally in his new 2020 Corvette.

Once Speed Phenom parks, he immediately begins comparing his car against some of the other incredible machinery on display. He’s particularly impressed by the McLaren 720S. That particular machine makes over 700 horsepower, weighs several hundred pounds less than the Corvette, and features active aero. Of course, it also costs five times what the new Corvette does.

While the current car is a triumph, we’re eager to see what’s next — and so is Speed Phenom. Both of us are practically salivating over the thought of a C8 Z06. A Z06 will likely offer performance that rivals the 720S for a fraction of the price.

Eye Candy Everywhere

Of course, if you’re still into front-engine, rear-wheel-drive machines, he does show off the new Mercedes-Benz AMG GT R Pro. It’s an impressive machine for sure, but Speed Phenom seems to think that a new Shelby Mustang GT500 would eat its lunch on a race track. We’d be much more interested in seeing a showdown with a C7 ZR1. Regardless, he’s considering buying one of these AMG GT-R Pros for a track toy.

Later, after some driving, the caravan stops for gas, and Speed Phenom finds himself parked next to a beautiful red Ferrari 458. They’re both stunning cars, but personally, we’d take the Corvette if we had a choice.

As you might expect, there aren’t many American cars in attendance. However, there is a beautiful metallic red Dodge Viper that gets a few seconds of well-deserved screen time.

The rally ends up at an exotic car dealership, where we get to see some wonderful machinery offered for sale. There’s an original Shelby Cobra and a handful of Ford GTs representing the American supercar contingent. Do you prefer the current Ford GT, or the ’05-’06 model? Take your pick.

We also catch a glimpse of a Bugatti Veyron, a McLaren Senna GTR, and a LaFerrari, as well as plenty of classic muscle cars and exotics from decades past. A Ferrari 308 may not be the fastest thing on the street anymore, but you’d best believe that it will still turn heads to this day.

As the C8 Corvette becomes more common on the streets, there’s a real possibility that supercar rally organizers won’t find them “exotic” enough anymore. For now, though, C8 owners like Speed Phenom should enjoy their time in the spotlight.