Page 36 - MotorTrend (March 2020)

TRACK TEST I Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 vs. Chevrolet Corvette Z51

Track Map MAX MPH

GT500 ........... 160.2 mph
CORVETTE .... 150.9 mph
VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, ALTON, VIRGINIA
GT500 ........... 1.36 g
Track Length (Full Course): 3.27 miles Track Intervals: 11.97 sec
CORVETTE .... 1.25 g

1

3 2

CORVETTE .... 1.17 g
GT500 ........... 1.12 g
17 4A
CORVETTE .... 1.19 g 4B
GT500 ........... 1.16 g
CORVETTE .... 1.40 g
GT500 ........... 1.33 g
5A
16B 16A
5B

6A
6B
15

14

13

CORVETTE .... 1.14 g
GT500 ........... 1.63 g
GT500 ........... 1.09 g
CORVETTE .... 1.42 g

Changing the C8’s
7
alignment from Street
to Track setting was
good for almost 2
MAX MPH seconds around VIR.

GT500 ........... 166.5 mph
8A
CORVETTE .... 153.6 mph
8B
Our two days of lapping had accumulated a tasty
list of Corvette and Mustang lap data. We tested
the Shelby and Corvette on different days but under
comparable conditions. But which version to pick to
represent each car? Randy has always been clear 9 CORVETTE .... 1.16 g
that he dials back a notch when he has a passenger, GT500 ........... 1.08 g
so all of those laps are out. And his only C8 laps as
the solo occupant happened in its track suspension
setup. After some debate, we compared this (which
is a setup you can easily make trackside) against
the base GT500 without CFTP, which is the more 10
comparable, all-around street and track Mustang
(and it’s cheaper, too). When a C8 ZR1 ZTK comes
along (carbon wheels, anyone?), we’ll be back.

11

CORVETTE .... 1.18 g
GT500 ........... 1.11 g KEY
12

Cornering Braking

36 MOTORTREND.COM MARCH 2020