If you were going on a track day, would you rather drive the C8 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 or the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500?
Regardless of whether you’re in the Chevrolet camp or a Ford enthusiast, you’ll no doubt agree that both cars are very impressive. Yes, they are quite different from each other, but both show just how good American-built sports cars can be.
A young YouTuber by the name of Speed Phenom happens to own both a Corvette Z06 and a Shelby GT500 and unlike other owners, isn’t afraid of pushing them to their respective limits on the racetrack. In his latest video, he shows side-by-side laps of the same racetrack in the two cars and when it comes to a hot lap, the Corvette has a significant advantage.
Read: Dealer Asks $375,000 For 25-Mile ‘Used’ C8 Corvette Z06
In terms of power, the Ford has the upper hand with a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 pumping out 760 hp and 625 lb-ft (847 Nm) of torque sent through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to the rear wheels. By comparison, the Corvette Z06 is equipped with a 5.5-liter naturally-aspirated V8 and has 670 hp and 460 lb-ft (624 Nm), as well as an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The YouTuber commends both cars for their impressive track performance. He is particularly fond of the linear power band of both cars and commends the exceptional brakes of the GT500. However, he prefers the driving position of the Z06 and says it is easy to toss through the corners thanks to its overall lighter weight. Ultimately, his best lap time in the Corvette was some 3.5 seconds quicker than his best lap in the GT500.
It’s worth noting that the Corvette does have stickier tires in the form of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires compared to the ‘standard’ Pilot Sport Cup 2 ones of the Ford.