The Corvette was able to set an impressive time despite having a finicky gearbox.
We have seen the Chevy C8 run stunning quarter-mile times. Emelia Hartford set a 9.47 second time earlier in this year. Hartford was not able to complete the 9.47-second time. After several warm-up runs, she returned to Famoso Raceway, Bakersfield, California to try to break the record.
Hartford and her crew set out early in the morning for the track to avoid the heat of 100+ degrees forecast for the afternoon. They also had to contend with rising temperatures and a temperamental transmission while dialing in their Corvette. It took the Chevy There were several unsuccessful attempts to get solid starts on the line. The Corvette finally broke the record by running the quarter-mile in 9.36 seconds, at 147 mph (236 km/h). This is a modest but significant improvement for the coupe.
There were some issues with the run. Hartford and her team had to balance power with what the transmission could handle. They feared that the gearbox would be the weakest link of the drivetrain. Although the Corvette was unable to shift through the gears during several runs, it still set a new record. There were also issues with oil leaking from the rear main seal. This is not a problem that will stop Hartford from running the Corvette.
Hartford may be able to achieve a better time. The Corvette’s performance was certainly affected by the hot track and weather. Hartford had to cool the Corvette several times before running it again. Hot weather can cause a car to lose power. The Corvette’s sub-9 second time frame doesn’t look extraordinary. The car is capable of handling 1,200 horsepower (894kilowatts) and could be transformed by the right combination.