In the realm of straight-line performance, few confrontations look so lopsided on paper yet feel so compelling in practice. Put the 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 head-to-head with the McLaren 765LT, and you get a drag-strip duel that’s impossible to ignore, captured in this latest DragTimes YouTube video.
At the heart of the ZR1 is a mid-mounted, twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 producing an astonishing 1,064 horsepower. In a drag race, that kind of output rewrites the rules. This is a purpose-built American powerhouse designed to endure repeated hard launches without fading, with projected performance figures that include a 0–60 mph sprint of around two seconds and a top speed approaching 233 mph.
Facing it is the 765LT, powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 making 755 horsepower. While down on power, the Longtail philosophy prioritizes low weight and instant response. On the strip, that shows up as explosive launches, strong midrange acceleration, and a constant sense of momentum. It’s good for roughly 2.7 seconds to 60 mph and a top speed near 205 mph, leaning on precision and balance rather than brute force.
Price only sharpens the contrast. The ZR1 is expected to enter the market at around $180,000, while the 765LT launched near $360,000 and often sells for more today. We won’t give away the outcome, so hit play on the video below and see which machine gets to the finish line first.
