2017 Camaro SS and SS 1LE Battle on a Road Course

Time to find out how much better the SS 1LE package is than a standard Camaro SS.

The track footage above comes to us from the R.G. Camaro YouTube channel and it features a track battle between a pair of 2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS coupes. The camera car is an SS model with a little more power than it had when it rolled off of the assembly line while the car out front is a stock SS 1LE. This allows us to see the real-world advantages of the 1LE package as the two race around the track of the National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park, with the stronger-handling car staying out ahead of the Camaro with more power.

The car carrying the camera is a 2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS with a cold air intake and an E85 tune. We don’t know exact power numbers, but the switch to E85 should provide at least a little more power than a stock LT1. This YouTube channel has a handful of videos showing this car in action on a few different road course tracks, so it is clear that the driver has experience in racing his Chevy muscle car.

The blue car out front in the footage is a 2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE and it is completely stock. We don’t know who the driver is, but in watching his pilot his muscle car around the tight parts of the track, it is clear that he is also an experienced in the ways of road racing.

ALSO SEE: Camaro SS 1LE vs. Mustang GT Performance Pack Comparison

Compared to the basic Camaro SS, the 1LE package adds Magnetic Ride Control suspension, an electronic limited-slip differential, unique wheels wrapped in Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires (285/30ZR20 front, 305/30ZR20 rear), six-piston Brembo front brakes with 14.6-inch rotors, an array of interior upgrades and an elaborate cooling package for the engine oil, differential and transmission.

In other words, the Camaro SS 1LE has a more-capable suspension setup, bigger front brakes and different wheels and tires, while the car carrying the camera has a bit more power than the 455-horsepower 1LE.

The video above begins as the two cars begin a lap, with the camera car having just completed its third lap of the Corvette museum’s Grand Course configuration. We ride along for two laps, and while the standard SS gets close on several occasions, making the most of the extra power to close the gap on straightaways, it is clear how the 1LE shines brighter through the technical sections of the track.

Of course, we should keep in mind that with racing action like this, driver skill can play a major role and it is clear that the 1LE driver knows what he is doing. However, the driver in the camera car is no slouch, so this footage provides a great look at how the 1LE advantages lead to quicker lap times in the real world.

Crank up your speakers and enjoy!

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com