Yahoo Autos The Ferrari 812 Is No Match for the C8 Corvette Z06
From the moment the first C8 Corvette Z06s started to arrive to owners, people have been testing just how potent the car is when stacked up against supercar rivals. Thanks to the team at DragTimes on YouTube, we now have a chance to watch the mid-engined sports car take on the immensely powerful Ferrari 812 Superfast in a ¼ mile shootout at Bradenton Motorsports Park.
The C8 Z06 and the Ferrari 812 Superfast might take different approaches to the supercar segment, but the two are more similar than one might think. Both utilize naturally aspirated powertrains and dual-clutch gearboxes, with both technically employing a mid-engine layout. Sure the 812’s V-12 might be in front of the driver, but it does sit entirely behind the front axle. Both are also extremely quick cars, with factory-rated ¼-mile times in the 10-second range. Of course it doesn't hurt that the Z06 has the most powerful naturally aspirated V-8 ever under its hood, with 670 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque on tap. Those numbers are dwarfed by the Ferrari V-12 however, which lays down 789 hp and 530 lb-ft of torque.
The C8 Z06 featured in the clip is a largely stock example, though it is important to note the car is outfitted with a Fabspeed exhaust. That becomes apparent from the moment the car starts, as the volume and tone is far different than that of a typical Corvette. The Z06 has already struggled to escape comparisons with the mid-engined sports cars from Maranello, and this sort of exhaust note won't help with that. Not that those comparisons are any sort of an accident. GM actually utilized a Ferrari 458 Speciale as a benchmark for the flat-plane Z06, alongside the 991-generation 911 GT2 RS. More recently, GM has been spotted testing a Ferrari SF90 at its Michigan testing facility, which only hints at the level of performance on the way from later C8 models. Regardless of how good that flat-plane V-8 might sound, it doesn’t have anything on the shriek that the big V-12 pumps out in anger.
The Z06 comes off the line without any drama, aided by GM’s launch control system. Not that the Ferrari struggled launching at all, sticking just a hair behind with Z06 early in the run. The massive horsepower difference between the two cars starts to show up as the 1/4 pass comes to a close, with the Ferrari starting to walk the Corvette back. Things didn’t quite pan out that way, with the Z06 besting the Italian supercar during the first pass of 10.595 seconds at 128.9 mph. The Ferrari was just behind at 10.846 seconds at 132.96 mph.
We get a driver change in the Z06 for the second pass, with Drag Times' own Brooks Weisblat taking the wheel. Once the tree changes, Brooks manages to get a healthy leap on the Ferrari. Pass two ends with the Z06 crossing the line in 10.648 seconds at 128.05 mph. The 812 put up a somewhat disappointing 10.964 at 132.70 mph. Brooks beats the Ferrari again during his second attempt, running a 10.525 @ 128.15 mph.
The consistent trap speeds spit out by the Z06 are impressive to behold, as is the ease in which the car’s launch control system functions. Things might look different in roll race, but from an old-school dig the 812 just doesn't stand a chance. This round goes to the team in Kentucky, but we can't wait to see more competitors from Maranello try their hand at besting the Z06.
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