aussie jimmy

i strongly agree.

NJ-GT

I don't think so.

Don't let the vast mediocrity of Corvette driving out there on DE fool you.

Mikymu's GT3 Cup is a 09 3.6, this car is 4 secs slower at Sebring compared to the wider wheels/wider tires/50HP increase/3.8/more Aero 2010+ GT3 Cup. With a Pro driver at Sebring (ALMS) the 3.8 GT3 Cup laps in the 2:06-2:07 range, while the 3.6 997 Cup laps in the 2:11 range.

At Laguna Seca, a Pro (Randy Pobst) lapped a stock Z06 on run flat tires in 1:34, just 1 second slower than a recent fast lap with a GT3 RS 4.0 on R6 with a very good driver (Jesse). The same Z06 can do 1:31 on slicks with everything else stock.

Z06 gain a lot with an Aero package, it can fit the widest tires and wheels out there, a lot of power can be gained w/o forced induction on a budget (goes from 505Hp to 680Hp), the street gearing is plain horrible so the 2010+ ZR1 tranny with a short final gear and new 5th/6th makes it even better, and it can also lose 300 lbs easily.

I witnessed one on a very hot and humid day at Sebring do a 2:11 with a track 3 secs slower than the ideal conditions ALMS get when running the 12hr race, and the driver is not a Pro, not re-geared, and not running 680Hp.

kosmo

Most impressive of all is that you did all the work yourself in your own garage w/o a lift. Bravo.

996FLT6

You're correct I really don't see enuf fast corvette drivers. I do see a lot of fast cupcars. There was an 09 cup(by the way he flew by me like I was going in reverse) at th last year did 1:47:55(bypass) and another pro in a 2011 cup did 1:45.26 and same 2011 cup at ls 1:28:86. I be curious how much modding u need on the zo6 to get to those laptimes. Surely it's not really hp upgrade and a tranny change. But it's an apples to oranges comparison. I take a cup over any street modified nething. Now corvette racecar vs cup- totally different ball game. mike

utkinpol

U R talking about hypotetical $100k build here, it is beyound any reason.

NJ-GT

Another $20k on top of what Mike has done already, you might find it unreasonable, I don't.

Mike does his own work, I do my own work as well. No need to buy a sparkling new 2013 Z06, when a 2006 donor would do.

There was one for sale locally for $80k a few days ago, it is gone now. 650Hp motor and a super nice aero kit.

Then comes the cost to keep it running, Porsches (even the cheap and lousy Boxster, Cayman and Carrera) are expensive to run, and the lesser models (non GT3/GT2) break too often.

MariusRacer

...

MariusRacer

Pat lapped a 2008 997 Cup at Sebring at just under 2.08 with old tires. 997.1 Cup to .2 is 1.5 to 2 sec difference. 2.11's are club racing lap times... He also did a 2.10 in a 996 Cup. #ballsoutdriving

NJ-GT

I've been using IMSA results for the last 3 years, and the gap between Platinum and Gold.

Too many modified ex-GrandAm, WC, 996 and 997 Cup out there. The WC with the sprint engines and tricked aero package are producing more power than any of the ALMS GT2 (GT) entries.

Was Long in an PMS stock 08 Cup ?

MariusRacer

bone stock cars. IMSA guys are very good but they still leave a little bit on the table. If you put Wolf, Joerg or Pat in those cars you would be amazed.

wanna911

The car Randy Pobst lapped was a Z07 package like Mike's with the good MPSC, carbon brakes and magnetic suspension. Still VERY impressive time though.

I agree on the street Z06 being beast. It takes very little to get them really light and REALLY powerful. With the 20k you suggest, they will still come up short to a Cup Car, but on a track like Sebring, there is a lot of time they can make up on the straights.

GTgears

Yep. Brain Wong was IMSA top dog but when he tried to move up to the next level, he was 2-3 seconds off the pace. Snow might be the next Pat Long, but he's not there yet.

Earlierapex

Z06 is awesome and incredibly capable for the money. Great handling and incredible torque. However, if you are used to a 911, the steering feel is an order of magnitude more vague.

My buddies with cup cars spend a WHOLE lot more money than GT3 guys, like 2x to 3x as much. Of course, they do it differently - full support, new slicks each weekend, etc. I'm sure you could do it cheaper, but to imply it is in the same ballpark as GT3 may be optimistic. If you drive a cup and want to keep up with other cup drivers, it's $5k/weekend.

Another problem with a cup at a DE weekend is that you are constantly stuck behind traffic.

FFaust

Thanks for the write up on these 3 very relevant track cars Mike.

@ Mosport,
94 octane street gas: $1.89/litre
98 octane "cup" gas: $4.29/litre

orthojoe

Funny you should mention that. I noticed that issue with mikymu.