Road Test: 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, 2005 MTI Pontiac GTO, 2005 Livernois Ford Mustang GT, 2005 Lingenfelter Chevrolet Corvette, 2006 Hennessey Dodge Viper Coupe and 2005 Accufab Ford GT
Test Four: Figure Eight
0:04 While a standard 600-foot-slalom test gives an indication of limit-handling characteristics, the figure eight delivers a more real-world view of how a vehicle will perform, particularly through the transitions from braking to cornering and back to acceleration. Here raw power often makes for challenging corner entry setup and for wild oversteer on corner exit.
Without allowing any chassis changes, each tuner chased the figure-eight performance benchmark set by the well-balanced Z06. The stock super Vette proves easy to drive with predictable handling, acceleration, and braking. Consequently, it set a stellar F8 lap time of 23.9 seconds with an average cornering g-force of 0.84.
First up for the tuners was the Hennessey Viper. With a track-tested suspension package composed of KW coil-over shocks and special rate (1.5-inch-lower) springs, the Hennessey Coupe delivers better than stock ride quality with more predictable, more linear breakaway. That said, add a hair too much throttle, and it's like driving with studded snow tires on marble. Yet patient inputs deliver rewarding results in the form of 24.2-second figure-eight lap times with a Z06-beating 0.87g average.
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