New Shelby GT 500 vs Corvette C8 Z51

[jk66gt350]

I recall seeing a few threads on the C8 vs GT 500 in the last year or so.  I spent this morning at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex driving a few cars via Extreme Experience.  Great program and a really fun morning overall.  I did have the opportunity to drive the new GT 500 and the C8 Z51 back to back - 3 laps each.  I have some track experience but I'm no race driver.  That said, I did enjoy thrashing these cars to the best of my ability and to my delight, my passenger instructors / coaches just kept encouraging me to go harder.  Leaving looks, price, interior, practicality etc. aside and focusing only on performance / handing, it was interesting.  The GT 500 was a brute with tremendous punch, awesome exhaust sound and it handled very well.  The vette surprised me somewhat and to me was the better handling car overall, not by a lot, but it felt better balanced and smoother / tighter through the turns.  I assume that apart from the difference in engine placement, the significant difference in weight had a lot to do with my driving impressions.  That said, if I was in the market for one or the other and I factored in everything about both cars, it would likely be a difficult choice.  Not every day is a track day.
Just one car guy's impression.   

[FL SAAC]

Agree with your feelings and unbiased write up. Glad you enjoyed them both

[shelbydoug]

How did they do in the submarine test?

[FL SAAC]

How did they do in the submarine test?

LMAO the SEA-8 took that category

[jk66gt350]

Fortunately the morning rains stopped and the track dried out in time for my rides, so unfortunately the submersible SEA-8 testing was not available.

[crossboss]

So, it was Catfish VS Submarine? lol

[68krrrr]

I've done of of these events a few years back but with exotics, but curious did they time your laps ?(didn't see you mention this) because i drove the Lamborghini Hurrican & the Ferrari 458 in multiple laps & while i felt i was going faster in the Lambo the lap times said opposite .

[jk66gt350]

Laps were not timed but I did get the in-car audio and video package.  That included live mph during the laps.  Looking at the videos after I was there, my speeds on the back straight and a couple of the corners were faster in the vette, but that is likely more because it was the last car I drove, so I was getting used to the track more and more 1st car to last.  I never said I thought I did faster laps in the C8 - just that I thought it handled a little better through the corners than the GT 500. 

[FL SAAC]

The main take away is you went out drove two great cars and had fun.

Try to put up some video clips if you can

[shelbymann1970]

I've done of of these events a few years back but with exotics, but curious did they time your laps ?(didn't see you mention this) because i drove the Lamborghini Hurrican & the Ferrari 458 in multiple laps & while i felt i was going faster in the Lambo the lap times said opposite .

I did a Ferrari 458 at MIS road course and did a Nascar Stock car on the MIS  oval. Suffice to say different characteristics all together.