Chevy Corvette Z06 Chases Down Lamborghini Huracan at Virginia International Raceway | Lightning Lap

Read more about Lightning Lap 2023: www.caranddriver.com/features...
By pure coincidence at Lightning Lap this year, the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and 2023 Lamborghini Huracan set their fastest laptimes within seconds of each other. We thought it was really cool to see the Z06 reel in the Huracan and wanted to share the experience. Here, Carlos Lago sits down with drivers David Beard and K.C. Colwell to watch the events unfold and hear commentary about what it was like.
2023 Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica: www.caranddriver.com/features...
2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06: www.caranddriver.com/features...
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[@NoPrivateProperty]

those guys need to be jogging around that course

[@Heywoodthepeckerwood]

Perhaps they should just spend a couple months in a communist country. That’ll do the trick. Effing tankie.

[@IndependenceCityMotoring]

Just WOW on that Z06!

[@NIAtoolkit]

If the curb weight of the C8 Corvette was closer to the that of a Lamborghini Hurracan or a Ferrari 458, it would be scary hours

[@jameswillard1]

So many “if” scenerios …..the Corvette’s heaviness is a result of it having to be engineered to a price point and the fact that it is only offered as a open topped car which required lots of chassis reinforcement (weight) to the central tunnel, so it losing several hundred pounds is a lot less likely than “if” Lamborghini or Ferrari decided to also run a 345 section Michelin Sport Cup 2 R like the Z06 and elevate their cars beyond it.

[@ctcdarkness]

@@jameswillard1someone’s hurt 🥱😂

[@mogulme6190]

@@jameswillard1 well regardless it’s way faster than a 458 and probably faster than the lambo too

[@voodooturbo]

It doesn't need to lose weight. In a single lap it caught up to the Lamblow. Another leap and the C8 would be well ahead. C8 ZO6 > Lamblow.

[@jameswillard1]

@@ctcdarkness no, just know enough about lap times to realize that it’s more about the tires than the car. As so many others do, I have a C8 Z06 order in.

[@rockemsockemrusbot684]

Lightning Lap is the best. There’s so much history here. I remember the first one. The Ford GT, Viper SRT10, and Z06 Vette couldn’t break 3 minutes. These new cars are amazing with the times that they are doing.

[@shawnc0858]

The improvement is impressive, but a lot of the difference is due to the advancement of tire technology. Put the modern tires on those old cars and they'd likely be significantly faster than before. Those three cars are no joke

[@jostrander71]

@Shawnc0 Tires have improved some but not that much. Nascar and Indy racing has been around forever. Maybe from the 60s 70s and possibly the 80s but the last 20 years? Not as much.

[@ssoffshore5111]

@@jostrander71 Clearly you're not a serious track guy or a racer. Tire tech has improved that much, and it does make a huge difference. I'm not taking anything away from these newer cars, but go to just about any track and watch something like an old 2006 C6Z fitted with a few mods and newer high-end tires give most of today's faster cars fits. Tires make a huge difference. Today's tires vs 15-20 y/o tire tech is worth seconds at most tracks...

[@Vladx35]

You guys have amazing jobs. That seems like insane fun. C8 platform is such a step up. Keep making those great videos.

[@bobsmoot8454]

Great hearing their impressions and seeing the Z06 closing in especially in the corners

[@lutomson3496]

The corvette brakes are smaller and shortcuts done to make it cheaper run them for 20 laps and see who wins

[@krawczak9182]

Would be nuts to see a light Z06, I mean the Z06 is already not obtainable for most people so why not make an insane version

[@brendanschriber3242]

You’ll probably see something of that nature in the zr1

[@CanadianSpeedster]

C8Z FTW! Great video. These C8Z’s are starting to hammer down some very impressive lap times.

[@vivekh7662]

Wow, two cars I can't buy. I was offered a Z06 this weekend at 80K over sticker and tried to reserve a Tecnica and was told they were all sold out.

[@saeed5853]

Wow! That difference in performance worth 200k at least more than the price of huracan! In fact Z06 is cheaper by 100k-150k!! 😂

[@joshuafridley5868]

The ZO6 is a Track Monster..... Amazing...

[@boywonderrr71]

SOOOO COOL!! I would love to see lead follow leap frog laps!! sometimes you need that competition for a speed gain.

[@Tal_Israel]

Magnificent video. So cool you added the last part. Brings it all alive. Chapeau!

[@shookfng]

Did they count for the driver’s weight?

[@rc54]

I was lucky enough to get a ride with KC in the Z06 and with Dave in the Lambo (and also in the SL63) at this event. These boys know how to drive, and the cars are as phenomenal as they seem.

[@jameslovett8697]

Love to see the STO vs ZO6.

[@duncanbleak3819]

Very nice!

[@drsus0]

people comparing the z06 lap here to the ZR1 laps record: the Zr1 was being driven by GM's engineer/test driver the fact that these guys were able to get that close to that time only speaks of how fast his z06 is in the hands of not professionals

[@jostrander71]

Like Nurburgring records are done by professional race car drivers for Porsche, Mercedes, BMW. Chevy goes to Germany with engineers who like fast cars . The engineers are driving the Corvette and Camaros. The ZL1 1le Nurburgring laptime is epic done by Bill Wise. GM drivetrain engineer.

[@jostrander71]

Who was driving the ZR1?

[@drsus0]

@@jostrander71 Jim Mero. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGjNYpp5gptga68

[@AmericanFreedomPatriot]

The Corvette engieering team built the Z06 to be a track car, and they did that very well. its up there with the best the world has to offer. Going to be interesting to see what they do for the ZR1 & Zora models. So far we have the base Stingray, the Z06 track car, and a hybrid AWD E-ray.

[@e30ogPlayground]

yall need to do that spec miata staff race

[@jonasbaine3538]

Use the Best Motoring/Hot Version touge race format. Pick a section of track. See who can lose the other, then switch. best of 3 wins.

[@michigantoga]

If they get the ZR1 down to about 3400lbs & improve the braking. It will be ground breaking

[@dlang1009]

How do you know one driver is not a better driver or more experienced at the track? If same driver in both cars are used for times and speed it would even things out.

[@shafiaahmad4061]

good point.

[@blakecastille6570]

Same driver does apply here. They use 5 drivers to do hot laps in every one of the cars and the best lap time the car puts down that day is recorded. This video just happened to see the best lap each car put down that day at the same time... the Z06 is about 5 seconds faster. The z06 has a lot more aero and tire so it's not really surprising.

[@j7b890]

tyres are alsp very important... the cup 2 r and the potenza sport are uncomparable. I hope they didnt make such a comparison. Potenza Race are inline with cup r s.

[@rwilson4073]

@@j7b890 Lamborghini's configurator description of the technica (exterior > wheels, scroll down > tires) says they use potenza race tires, although I believe most previous Huracáns have used potenza sports

[@j7b890]

@@rwilson4073 no the standard tyre for the tecnica as well as the more extreme sto is the potenza sport. From the configurator you can choose as an option the potenza race. You can see it in the Lamborghini website under standard equipment/options.

[@billyfoster3223]

Neat car, but I still like the C6 Z06 and ZR1!😁 90's Viper GTS and Ram Air Trans Am, too!😁🔧🛠️

[@superstarsfastcars]

These are some big ass guys to fit in these cars 😂

[@SPEEDBOYZGARAGE]

Corvette is really out here making waves🚀

[@tedzehnder961]

Unless you take the wing off you`ll be lucky to top 163 in that z06.That is as fast as it could go down the back straight at Indy with a roll on at 120mph.The guys at Chevy did it multiple times before the Indy 500 and I thought it would do 10 more miles an hour but after 4 runs they were all the same.Maybe with a mile or two at a long runway it could go faster than 165 but I doubt it, too much drag.

[@k3corvette35]

Oh what a weapon the Zr-1 (or a.k.a. Zora) is gonna be !!! The E-ray is interesting too, but more of a GT then track car like the Z06 is !!

[@ssoffshore5111]

My guess is the ZR1 and the Zora will be two different models. ZR1 being a TT version of the Z06, and the Zora having the TT ZR1 engine, but with the E-Ray's added electric front motors also.

[@ludda42]

It looks like the ZO6 is more than a second slower than the C7 ZR1; it did a 2:37.25. However the ZR1 has 80 more hp

[@Luke-cb3ly]

there is a big difference, the time of 2:37 was done by GM itself, who obviously know how to set up the car perfectly for the track, with a professional driver and plenty of tires at their disposal. in the Car and driver test the ZR1 did 2:39.6 that is, it was a second slower than the Z06. this means that if GM does the same with the Z06 it will probably do around 2:37 or even 2:36.5

[@CanadianSpeedster]

The ZR1 was actually over 2 seconds slower when car and driver ran it and logged a 2:39.5. The faster time was done later on, by Chevrolet…

[@drsus0]

that would mean something had it been the same drivers on both cars...

[@gruppegee]

Proof of just how impressive the Zed06 really is for its price. A lil down on HP but man she's fast

[@Turbo329]

I'll have my Huracan in Lipstick Red please. :D

[@eedoamitay3341]

I hope someone will read this because I really really want to know what he meant by tire warmers in the car at 1:27. Please, any response is appreciated!

[@flexinclouds]

Same thing you see used in formula one/nascar/LeMans etc. Theyre big plug-in heated blankets (essentially), that get wrapped around the tires before racing/doing hot laps. That way you can get the tires up to temp inside & out (without having to do several warmup laps that wear the tires down before the hot laps have even begun).

[@sponk2112]

That was a ton of fun to watch, and much respect to the 'vette, which has always been right up there with supercars in performance for a fraction of the price. I'd still take the Lambo, but I'd have to mortgage the house. In this life, I could swing a new 'vette, still get at least 90% of the thrills, and keep the house. I'd actually take a C7 over a C8 though.

[@nicklovely6431]

Your opinion isn't valid til you drive a c8.

[@nosliw751]

No offense meant by this, but can you post the individual laps without the commentary? Listening to you guys talk about it is great and all but I'd very much like to hear the sweet noises of the C8Z's new engine on track without the voices and muted overlay.

[@caranddriver]

You can find each vehicle's hot lap video here: www.caranddriver.com/features/a42387169/lightning-lap-2023/

[@1a2b3c4.]

1000ths of a second WIN😂

[@Kevin-MM69ex]

This was awesome to watch!!

[@fj06carnone]

Lol. What a nice coincidence. You're not kidding your insurance company though. You guys are playing with fire. 🤣🤣

[@timmietz]

So, the Z06 is 1 sec quicker than the 2019 ZR1. Got it.

[@ludda42]

It looks like the ZO6 is more than a second slower. ZR1 did a 2:37.25. However the ZR1 has 80 more hp

[@99-Zulu]

@@ludda42 Where are you getting this? C&D's website shows the Z06 being 9/10 of sec quicker than the C7 ZR1.

[@CanadianSpeedster]

@@ludda42 The ZR1 did 2:39.5 when car and driver did the lighting lap. So it actually registered 2 seconds slower… The faster time came later on by Chevrolet.

[@drsus0]

so youre saying that this guy can drive as fast as GMs pro test driver, got it.

[@camonly849]

237.25 is the correct laptime for the c7 zr1. I remember this because it was .25 seconds slower than the amg gtr black series which absolutely boggled my mind. I was surprised the c8 z06 was slower, but then again this track also benefits higher hp cars. So the c8 is at a disadvantage there. I can't wait to see the ring time.

[@reneortega5248]

Are the big dudes twins?

[@steven-fury]

im not sure how you said the Huracan would walk the z06 on the straight when it makes about 30 less hp, both around same torque and weight? Not sure why it does pull away

[@Luke-cb3ly]

Simple, the Z07 package generates a lot of drag. on the C7 Z06 the difference between the base Z06 vs the Z07 was absurd. the 60-130 of the C7 Z06 with the Z07 package was 8.2, the base Z06 does it at 7.5 and not only that, the C8 Z06 has very long gears, which makes the car better for the track but makes acceleration a little worse , because the rpm drops a lot with each gear change, unlike the Huracán which has the gears very close to each other, to optimize acceleration. on the straights I believe the base Z06 is much closer to the Huracán.

[@steven-fury]

@@Luke-cb3ly i figured it was the downforce for the straights, but i dont think the gearing is real long in the z06 compared to the previous gens, Ive owned 2. Pretty sure they made them shorter to compensate for not having as much torque.

[@flexinclouds]

@@steven-fury No downforce is only really neaded for cornering, helping everything stay planted thru corners. (Unless were talking high horsepower, RWD cars like 900hp+) then high downforce would be very helpful to keep traction during straight-line highway pulls for example

[@markgtrheyes]

What tyres were the cars running? Fast road, pilot cup2 type of pilot cup 2r super sticky? Over a long lap, this would make a significant difference. I am based in the UK and no track tests of the latest z06 over here, but looks super impressive

[@rwilson4073]

I believe they're running the stock tires, so Cup 2Rs on the Z06 and Bridgestone Potenza Sports on the Huracán

[@j7b890]

@@rwilson4073 then it makes little sense because cup 2r competitors are the potenza race not sport.

[@99-Zulu]

@@j7b890 Then blame the manufacturer. They are the ones who decided to put them on their car.

[@j7b890]

@@99-Zulu there s nothing to blame. If tenicas are 70% of the time not driven on a track it is the right thing to do. If the manufacturer has specifically designed and offers as an option a track tyre then in a lap comparison that tyre should be used.

[@99-Zulu]

@@j7b890 Yeah they are to blame because the Tecnica from factory does not offer cup 2 tires or even Sport 4S. They offer Bridgestone. C&D LL tests cars from the factory. Albeit just tires, it's still considered a modification to improve lap times. It'll be a different story if Lamborghini offered it as an option but they don't. Why don't these car reviewers put drag radials when they are testing for straight-line performance? Oh yeah, because they are testing what the car can do from the factory without modifications. Which is exactly what you are asking.

[@coryz.872]

Given the choice between a zo6 and a rwd Huracan, I'd probably have to flip a coin

[@user-hr2zy7ct8h]

And I'm gonna have to steal your coin to be able to afford one of them

[@Rhaspun]

A Bit coin.

[@juanc5149]

So the question I have to ask…. What if we put the z06 tires on the Huracán?

[@j7b890]

thats the question, because the standard tyre for the tecnica is not the cup 2 r equivalent (potenza race available as optional) but the potenza sport

[@danieldickerson4838]

They wouldn’t fit on the Lambo.

[@Luke-cb3ly]

Z06 all the way

[@BLITZKRIEG1]

those bellies 😜

[@mybusiness6125]

For real. Driver mod could save 100 lbs.

[@nigel_white]

Is Carlos a Hobbit?

[@fredeb67]

Just think of what the C7 ZR1 could do on CUP 2R compound tires. It was a generation behind in tire tech when it challenged the Porsche GT2 RS. I think if the C7 Z had the same tire compound as the GT2 RS, it would have be tenths of a seconds between the two. The tire compound makes the biggest difference. The CUP 2s were done in 2 or three hot laps while the CUP 2Rs are just getting warm and not at their apex of performance.

[@ssoffshore5111]

Just wait and see how the C8 ZR1 embarrasses just about everything. And then the Zora should be a serious monster!

[@rinaldocatria4386]

How does the C8 Z06 compare to a C7 ZR1?

[@shawnc0858]

The C8 Z06 lightning lap time is 0.9 seconds faster than the C7 ZR1

[@C5Ron7]

Thanx for the video, the Plastic Fantastic is amazing👍👍 Chevy really stepped up it's game.

[@jimwhiting12345]

"...can't see out the back so eyes forward." Dude, use your mirrors. You're dangerous!

[@Dirtypacc]

Can't wait to drive a Z06 at VIR Full course myself

[@EricMiltsch]

That. Was. Awesome.

[@danziger69]

That Z06 is a monster. Great job, Chevrolet!

[@petercurtis5570]

Long Live European Engineering LOL

[@jimsteinway695]

Come on sheesh. Cars at this level it’s all down to the driver PERIOD. Plus you don’t have FAT drivers.

[@Pete_Finch]

That Z06 is like hunting prey out there. The car is incredible

[@redtesta]

walk on the straight, since when. Two videos showing the z06 pull the huracan.. smfh 154 vs 156 .. I guess that is huge difference

[@rwilson4073]

Only on the very top end, it is visibly accelerating much faster, which is due to the much higher drag of the Z06 with the aero package. A Z06 without an aero package will walk a Huracán at the top end, and the Z06 accelerates faster at lower speeds, but the Huracán is definitely pulling away on the straight in this vid.

[@ryancuda45]

suprised they both didnt break down or need a 20k service after a unsorted hotlap

[@chuckmclaughlin]

Corvettes are warrantied for track use.

[@lutomson3496]

The hybrid corvette is faster good that lamborghini is staying to its roots with the huracan

[@OneNationUnderGod.]

This example just shows the work GM's chassis engineers put into the new Corvette. It's also why I'm so excited for GM's first performance EV, Teslas will look like a station wagon around the track!

[@NewCastleIndiana]

Those guys look like giants compared to him.

[@sergioambrosinojr5559]

I love when I see all those comments regarding corvette against Ferrari and Lambo. Z06 vs STO or z6 vs 458 speciale that’s the way you can compare it. Ferrari and Lambo will always keep their DNA and definitely makes an statement. Corvette it is a nice ride, but it will never be an exotic.

[@ssoffshore5111]

Looks like they feed their drivers well! I see where both can drop a second for next year! 😂 The C8Z is an impressive machine, especially for the money... Even if it did come on more pricey than most hoped.

[@bigshannonsims]

Although I like what chevy has down with the C8, and lm excited about this comparison. Am I the only person that thinks the vet is a Mid engined “Sports car” being compared to a super car??? I just dont see it as a legit super car?? Please give me feed back on this one

[@usafcombatvet218]

That Z06 is so badass.. I’ll take it over a lambo any day.

[@TokyoOlympics2020]

Omg stop talking

[@eddief68]

I am all about America-made cars... but the corvette in no way comes close to European cars... focus on beating Ford and Dodge.

[@lechienvitre9212]

Too bad Corvette has produced a tasteful car since the 60’s, the C8 is hideous

[@cdnrednck]

let that vette EAT!!!

[@edblair5253]

Can u sync the vids?

[@40calDeathPunch]

Having professional race car drivers would have made this video real to life and not commentary on the view.

[@ThomasJohnson1228]

Dude was super salty his lambo got smashed by a corvette😂😂 had all the excuses in the world

[@TheEryk03]

Corvette driver had so much easier. It's easier to catch up.

[@Luke-cb3ly]

It's not. Z06 is just faster, that's it

[@yusufgta4341]

C8 Z06 has better cornering

[@TheEryk03]

@@Luke-cb3ly No its not you fangirl.

[@TheEryk03]

@Careful_Eugene only in American tests with drivers that can't drive.

[@bradstokes3067]

@@TheEryk03 Do you know nothing of aerodynamics and downforce?

[@puny-tinsucks5102]

could those guys even fit in those cars??? lolol

[@exslang02]

the z06 has destroyed the huracan everywhere at racetracks in the world with proven laptimes its not even close huracan cannot hang with a z06 , even the GT3 RS loses to the z06 by a full 3 seconds which is an azzwhooping

[@edblair5253]

Catch him and pass him. Car and driver so simp now