Race-Prepped C8 Z51 vs Stock C8 Z06 vs Porsche Turbo S: Track Showdown Delivers a Surprising Winner
In a rare and revealing track day comparison, three high-performance sports cars—the race-prepped Chevrolet C8 Z51 Corvette, a factory-stock C8 Z06, and a stock Porsche 911 Turbo S—went head-to-head in a back-to-back shootout that offered more than a few surprises.
The test, organized and driven by Time Attack champion Andy Voelkel, took place with consistency and fairness in mind. Voelkel piloted all three vehicles himself, including his own Gridlife-winning, track-optimized C8 Z51 Corvette, which served as the benchmark.
Voelkel's Z51, fitted with aero and suspension modifications for competition, has already proven its capability by capturing a championship title. But the question remained—could it hold off the raw power and engineering prowess of the 2023 C8 Z06 and Porsche 911 Turbo S in a real-world track environment?
The Z06, with its 670-horsepower flat-plane crank V8 and advanced cooling and handling systems, was expected to be a top performer. Meanwhile, the Porsche Turbo S, with its all-wheel drive and relentless 640-horsepower twin-turbocharged flat-six, has long been considered a gold standard in real-world usability and track performance.
Each car was tested back-to-back under similar conditions, with Voelkel focusing on consistency and lap time data over subjective impressions. While the Z06 and Turbo S delivered expected levels of blistering pace and refinement, it was the prepped Z51 that made the biggest statement. Leveraging its weight balance, tuned suspension, and driver familiarity, the race-ready Corvette proved more than capable of outpacing its showroom-stock rivals in lap time—showing that setup and skill can trump spec sheets.
'The Z06 and Porsche are monsters right out of the box,' Voelkel said. 'But when you've got a well-sorted car and know it like the back of your hand, that's a tough combination to beat.'
Watch the full video to see the results unfold—and learn which car walked away with track-day bragging rights.
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