Porsche GT3 RS vs Shelby GT500 on the Track
Can the 760 horsepower GT500 keep up with a Porsche 911 GT3 RS driven on track by Randy Pobst? The results are pretty surprising.
Ford’s new Shelby GT500 is a pretty amazing piece of machinery. The GT500 is powered by a supercharged evolution of the Voodoo V8 from the GT350 that pumps out 760 horsepower controlled through a responsive and snappy dual-clutch transmission. The GT500 has been getting strong reviews so far for its drivability and performance. But it’s still no Porsche GT3 RS… or is it? Auto influencer Jason Cammisa took a deep dive into the on-track driving experience of the new super Mustang on his Issimi YouTube channel. In the process, he compared the GT500 to a Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, a Ferrari Superfast, and a Porsche 911 GT3 RS. The results are controversial, to say the least.
The video was shot at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway in Southern California. The cars are first lined up for a drag race. The GT500 does the 1/4-mile in 11.4-seconds, just barely beating the Hellcat’s 11.7-second run. Next up is the insane Ferrari 812 Superfast that’s powered by a 789-hp V12 with a 9,000-rpm redline. With stunning looks and a devilish V12 howl, the aptly named Superfast currently holds the mantle of the fastest front-engine, rear-wheel-drive production car in the world. The Ferrari easily smokes the GT500 with a 10.5-second 1/4-mile run compared to the Shelby’s 11.4-seconds.
This easily could have devolved into a predictable Ford vs Ferrari brawl. Luckily it doesn’t. Instead, it becomes a fascinating Ford vs Porsche story with surprising results. The video really gets interesting when hot shoe Randy Pobst shows up to drive the GT3 RS on the track. Cammisa tries to keep up in the GT500. “Where race cars are concerned, it’s not only the winningest manufacturer at Le Mans,” Pobst says. “It also makes this, the GT3 RS. Which is probably the best track weapon… ever made.” The GT500 out drags the GT3 on the straights but the Porsche easily regains any ground it lost under braking and around corners. “This car does not feel like a 4200 pound car,” Pobst says about the GT3. “This car grabs the track like it has claws. It whips off of corners.” Pobst also has nothing but good things to say about the Porsche’s feedback. “Porsche sets the standard. It’s firm, very linear in response.”
In the end, the cars’ track times are nearly identical. “This GT500 is based on a $20,000 rental car,” says Cammisa. “I cannot believe it’s even remotely keeping up with Randy in a winged GT3 RS!” The Porsche’s 1:55.57 lap barely beats the GT500’s 1:55.72. “So there you have it,” he adds. “A virtual tie. I love that we live in a world where a Mustang can compete with a 911 GT3 RS. And not just in terms of lap times but in terms of how they feel. Judged against the benchmarks and the best the Mustang still feels good. That’s amazing. Ford has changed what the GT500 name means. That is now a real sports car.”
Track times aside, personally I’d still take the GT3 RS. You?
