When Titans Collide: The GT2 RS Vs The 2019 ZR1

From stoplights in America to race tracks in Europe, these two manufacturers have been rivals for decades. With a brand new Corvette just around the corner let’s take a look at how these two stack up and why the 911 still has the advantage.

By Christopher Hurst - April 10, 2018

Weight Advantage

Pounds and ounces are the number one killer of performance no matter how much technology or horsepower you throw at a car. Lighter truly is better and the GT2 RS edges out the ZR1 by 319 pounds. This added weight in the corners is going to hurt the Chevy so it has to compensate with more muscle. This is where things start to get interesting.

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Truth in Torque

With a reported 700 horsepower the GT2 RS is down by 55 which isn’t a lot when you factor in that weight savings. What is substantial is the torque deficit. The Porsche is down 162 lb/ft which seems like a lot until you consider one very important detail…

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PDK King

Chevy has reported that a 7-speed manual gearbox will come as standard with an optional 8-speed automatic. Porsche is king of the double clutch gearboxes. Opting out of an automatic immediately tilts the scales in the 911s favor. Forget about the torque advantage. Time saved by not having to shift is worth seconds on the track. Even if the ZR1 does have an automatic we go back to slide 1.

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History Repeats Itself

The last GT2 RS was the 997 and it still went faster than the ZR1 despite the C6 ZR1 coming out 2 years after. A difference of 1.63 seconds over the famous race track admittedly isn’t much…but it’s still faster. The current GT2 RS has laid down a mind-blowing time of 6 minutes and 47 seconds. I don’t see the Chevy matching this.

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Tricky Tech

With a wheelbase of 96.5 inches and active rear steering that can vary depending on cornering speed, the GT2 RS can create the effect of a longer or shorter wheelbase on the fly. This enables the car to have stability in high-speed corners, but turn on a dime in the slower speed stuff. It also helps greatly in transitions!

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Aero and Top Speed?

Both cars have virtually the same top speed and roughly the same peak downforce. No quotes have been released about downforce levels at 100mph or 120mph where most cornering is likely to be done on the track. Without this data, it’s difficult to say which is more aerodynamically efficient so let’s call this one a tie until more data is available.

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Interior and Pricing

As something you have to live with every day, there is no denying the 911 has always had a better interior than the Corvette. The Vette takes the edge in the dollar department, but I suspect if you can chuck out six figures on a car this a moot point to you.

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Conclusions

With lighter weight, more technology and a history of being on top I suspect the new ZR1 will still be slower than the GT2 RS, however, it will be very fun to see these cars compete in YouTube videos to come and see how amateur racers fair in them at various national races and Time Attack style events. Let us know what you think in the comments below. Happy motoring!

>>Join the conversation about the GT2 RS vs the 2019 Corvette ZR1 right here in the 6SpeedOnline Forum!

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