Chevrolet’s 646-horsepower Corvette Z06 narrowly beats the 510-horsepower Porsche 911 GT3 in a drag race but not in roll runs.
Two of the world’s greatest naturally aspirated sports cars — the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and the Porsche 911 GT3 — recently went head-to-head in a series of drag and rolling races courtesy of carwow and presenter Matt Watson.
The showdown pitted American muscle against German precision. On one side stood the new C8 Corvette Z06, boasting a 5.5-liter flat-plane crank V8 that produces 646 horsepower and 595 Nm of torque. The power is delivered to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Outfitted with the Z07 performance package — which adds carbon wheels, ceramic brakes, and Michelin Cup 2 R tires — the Z06 weighs in at 1,714 kilograms and costs roughly $175,000 as tested.
Facing it was Porsche’s track-bred 911 GT3, equipped with a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six producing 510 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque. Mated to a seven-speed PDK gearbox, the GT3 tips the scales at just 1,479 kilograms and carries an estimated price tag near $185,000 with options.
The first drag run proved tricky for both cars, as cold Michelin tires hampered traction. The Z06 struggled to hook up initially, but once the surface warmed, it found its rhythm. In the decisive quarter-mile battle, the Corvette’s raw power pushed it to an 11.1-second pass — just ahead of the Porsche’s 11.3-second effort.
However, the tables turned during rolling races. From a half-mile kickdown, the GT3’s lightning-fast throttle response and shorter gearing allowed it to surge ahead early. Yet at higher speeds, the Corvette’s torque advantage came into play, enabling it to claw back ground on the straights.
The results highlight two different approaches to performance: the Corvette’s brute-force V8 power versus the Porsche’s precision-tuned balance. In the end, both proved their worth — a reminder that outright numbers don’t always tell the full story.
