Porsche 911 Carrera S Drag Races Camaro ZL1 With Surprising Results

They have a huge horsepower difference, but it’s hard to tell from watching these races.

We understand what you are thinking. We know what you’re thinking. The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has the most powerful Camaro, boasting a supercharged V8 that produces a lot of power and torque. The Porsche 911 Carrera S, meanwhile, is lower in the 911 hierarchy with a low power output and a preference for corners over straightaways.
Porsche 911 Carrera S Drag Races Camaro ZL1 With Surprising Results
The ‘Maro has a significant power advantage in this match. It has 650 horsepower (485 Kilowatts) compared to only 443 horsepower (330 kW) of the 911. This is a significant deficit, even with the 911’s substantial weight advantage of more than 500 pounds. There’s more to this paper matchup than a difference in power. Both cars have similar performance metrics in sprinting to 60 mph, and the quarter-mile. It appears Porsche uses its power more effectively than Chevrolet.

There is also the possibility that Porsche may be under-rating the 911. reports suggest upwards of 480 horsepower (358kW) in turbocharged 3.0-liter flat-6. Although it’s still below the Camaro’s power, speed is only one component. You can’t make it go if you don’t have power. The Carrera’s rear engine configuration gives it an advantage. Official statistics from Chevrolet and Porsche show that these cars are actually quite similar in straight-line performance. This is on paper. We all know that statistics don’t always translate into real-world results.
Porsche 911 Carrera S Drag Races Camaro ZL1 With Surprising Results

This is evident in the first race, where the Carrera completely destroys the Camaro. Even with launch control enabled, the unprepped surface for the race doesn’t allow for ZL1’s powerful torque. Although the 911 launched much more smoothly, the Camaro lost some ground towards the end.The second race involves a standing launch launch but no launch control. A third and final race, with a rolling start, removes the problem of traction-at launch completely. In these two races, does the Camaro’s horsepower advantage show? The video will tell the story, but here’s a teaser. The outcome is much closer than one might expect.