C8 Corvette Gives Ferrari 458 Speciale Massive Scare in Drag Race

Everyone knows the C8 Corvette is quick, but it also hangs with the more powerful and lighter Ferrari in this showdown.

By now, everyone is well aware of the fact that the C8 Corvette is particularly quick in a straight line. GM specifically designed the mid-engine machine for this special purpose, giving it an ultra-quick shifting dual-clutch transmission and some weight over the rear wheels, which helps it launch in a rather violent and efficient manner. That also means the relatively modestly-powered C8 Corvette Stingray is capable of punching far above its weight class in terms of drag racing, as CarWow recently found out while pitting one against a Ferrari 458 Speciale.

As most are well aware by now, the C8 fitted with the optional Z51 package is equipped with GM’s 6.2-liter LT2 V8, which makes 495 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque and has around 3,600 pounds to move. The Ferrari 458 Speciale, on the other hand, is a bit of an older vehicle, in this case from the 2014 model year. However, it’s certainly no slouch even by today’s standards, thanks to 4.5-liter V8 that makes 597 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque with a curb weight of around 3,000 pounds.

On paper, the Ferrari is obviously the heavy favorite here thanks to its superior horsepower and weight figures, but as most are well aware, that doesn’t always translate to a win on the track. Thus, CarWow lines them up for a series of drag races to see which of these cars is the quickest. From a dig, the Corvette leaps off the line and leaves the 458 in its dust, and it takes the win thanks to the fact that the Ferrari had some trouble finding traction.

Thus, the driver heats up the tires by doing some donuts and the two go again. This time around, the Corvette still gets an early advantage off the line, but the Ferrari motors ahead in short order and claims victory. In the third round, the C8 driver heats up its tires and uses that to catapult ahead to a substantial lead, but the 458 leans on its horsepower advantage and comes roaring back to take an ultra close race that’s decided by a mere tenth of a second.

Thus, the two move on to a roll race at 50 miles-per-hour, which the Ferrari takes by essentially a nose. The second time around, the 458 Speciale wins by a larger margin, as expected. Regardless, the C8 Corvette performs incredibly well here, putting up a fight against a car that has far superior numbers, which is undoubtedly impressive.

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