[VIDEO] Watch a 2020 Corvette Z51 Set a New C8 Lap Record at Laguna Seca

The new Speed Phenom, who just set a new course record for a Corvette at 1:38 in his third trip to Laguna Seca.

In the process, the Corvette managed to keep pace with much more expensive cars like a Ford GT, Bugatti Chiron, McLaren P1, Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo, Ford Mustang GT4, and Ferrari 488 GT3. Pretty lofty company, indeed.

Despite having to deal with 95-degree temperatures, Speed Phenom says his 2020 Corvette Stingray, equipped with the Z51 package, still kept its cool and never overheated the way some of his fellow C7 Z06 racers were complaining about to him.

He says the level of confidence he gets from the new C8 is “unbelievable,” and no, he didn’t experience any problems with the understeer reported in some magazines.

“Nope, nothing like that,” he says. “This car is phenomenal!”

While stressing that he’s not just being a fanboy, Speed Phenom brags that the C8 is “an absolute track weapon. I am serious about this. The way this thing is set up, the way it’s balanced, it’s so fun on the track.”

That doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement, however.

“Here’s the deal, though,” he says. “If this car had a ton of horsepower, … like 600 or 700, and really wide tires in the back with wide wheels to match that power, to put that power down to the ground. And it had six piston brakes up front and four pistons out back … this car would be basically unstoppable at the racetrack. I don’t think many cars would be able to keep up just because the balance of this new mid-engine platform, it’s so gradual, driving it hard, it doesn’t ever bite you.”

His ideas for improving the Stingray sound a lot like the highly anticipated Z06 version due out in the next couple of years.

“As long as Chevy realizes what went so well with this car right here,” Speed Phenom concludes, standing beside his Torch Red 2020, “and they take everything they learn and improve upon it, then we should be fine.”

Source:
Speed Phenom /YouTube

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[VIDEO] McLaren MP4-12C Owner Reacts to a Drive in the C8 Corvette
[VIDEO] Speed Phenom and an Acura NSX Driver Try Out Each Other’s Rides
[VIDEO] Speed Phenom Runs the Quarter Mile in 10.95 Seconds in His Stock 2020 Corvette