Matt Watson and the crew from carwow lined up two of the world’s best naturally aspirated machines: the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and the Porsche 911 GT3.
The Z06’s 5.5-liter flat-plane crank V8 produces 646 horsepower and 595 Nm of torque, driving the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Equipped with the Z07 track pack — carbon wheels, ceramic brakes, and Cup 2 R tires — it weighs 1,714 kg and costs nearly $175,000 as tested.
The Porsche GT3, powered by a 4.0-liter flat-six making 510 horsepower and 450 Nm, channels power through a seven-speed PDK gearbox to its 1,479 kg frame. Priced at about $185,000 with options, it’s lighter but down on power.
The Z06 brings raw, flat-plane V8 power and muscle-bound aggression, while the GT3 counters with surgical precision and lightweight engineering. On paper, the Corvette’s 646 horsepower dwarfs the Porsche’s 510, but numbers rarely tell the whole story.
The first quarter-mile run saw both cars struggle for grip on cold Michelin tires, with the Z06 spinning wildly. Once warmed up, traction improved, and the Corvette rocketed ahead, setting an 11.1-second quarter-mile — just edging out the GT3’s 11.3-second effort.
Rolling races told a different story. From a half-mile kickdown, the Porsche’s razor-sharp throttle and shorter gearing gave it the edge, pulling ahead despite the Corvette’s power advantage. In higher gears, however, the Z06’s torque came alive, reeling the Porsche back in on the straights.
