C8 Corvette Z06 Gives Ferrari 488 Challenge, 911 GT3 Fits at the Track
Once again punching above its price point, the C8 Corvette Z06 impresses after a very strong outing at COTA.
By now, everyone is well aware that the C8 Corvette Z06 is a certified track weapon, the kind of car that punches way above its weight in terms of cost, even with its six-figure plus price tag. GM has truly created a masterpiece with the latest Z06, a car that sounds glorious thanks to its flat-plane crank 5.5-liter LT6 V8, while vast amounts of downforce are available with the optional Z07 Performance Package to boot. But while many of these cars will wind up being stored away as collectibles, one owner – Austin Everett of the Speed Phenom YouTube channel – takes his to the track on a regular basis. Recently, he headed out to Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, and gave some supercar owners fits in the process.
On his initial test laps at the track – which he admittedly doesn’t have much experience on – Everett managed to set a best lap time of 2:19, which is pretty impressive. He continues to lavish praise on the C8 Corvette Z06 as he has done since securing delivery, complementing its stability and abundance of grip. He also appreciates the higher-speed straights at COTA after spending much of his time on tighter, more technical circuits in California.
That much is evident by the outcome of this particular track day, as the Z06 manages to reel in and overcome some pretty serious machinery – a list that includes a Porsche 911 GT3 and Cayman GT4, a C7 Corvette Z06, an SCCA Ford Mustang racer, and the pièce de résistance – a Ferrari 488 Challenge race car.
After his successful day, Everett notices a few more things about his newest ride, including the fact that its Magneride suspension is capable of soaking up all the bumps he encountered, without upsetting the chassis or punishing the driver for making any small mistakes. He notes that the C8 Corvette Z06 is a “legitimate track car,” which is no surprise given the fact that it was developed essentially side-by-side with the racing version.
The only problem, of course, is that actually getting one’s hands on a new Z06 is easier said than done, with every allocation essentially spoken for. The only path to immediate ownership at this point is to pay a premium for it, and even then, finding a Z07-equipped model is a needle in the haystack sort of endeavor. But if you are able to score one, the newest Z06 certainly looks like it’s worth the effort – and then some.
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