A faster car doesn’t necessarily mean more power.
The Ford GT first appeared to the public in 2015. It’s still making headlines three years later. John Cena’s former GT is back on the market while Ford is allegedly trying to break the Nurburgring record. While the beautiful GT Heritage Edition is attracting attention at Pebble Beach we are pleased to show you a GT racing in drag. It’s not a regular drag but against a 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.
Let’s look at the numbers first. The ZR1 is one of the most powerful production cars on the market today. It uses a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 motor that produces 755 horsepower (563kilowatts) at 6,300 RPM and 715 pound-feet (969 Newton meters) at 4,400 RPM. Even with stock tires, the ZR1 can reach speeds of more than 200 mph (321 km/h) and a peak torque of 715 pound-feet (969 Newton-meters) at 4,400 rpm. Jay Leno says that the car is very stable at this speed.
A 2017 stock GT is up against the ZR1, with its 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine mated to an automatic seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and producing 647 horsepower (482 kW) as well as 550 lbft (746 Nm). It is lighter than the ZR1 (3.354 lb/1.614 kg) and weighs in at 3,354 lb (1.521 kg).
The ZR1 is faster than the GT on a track, but it’s still fascinating to see their performance on the drag strip. The DragTimes video shows the GT winning all three roll races at Palm Beach International Raceway. The rolling start allows the cars to pass the green light at approximately 40 mph (64 km/h). At the end of 1/4-mile, it is the highest speed that matters. Although the difference is small, it is still significant. The GT is faster than ZR1.