While every track rat is looking for ways to make their car perform better on course, as any experienced driving coach will tell you, honing your skills behind the wheel should always be the first step toward faster lap times. This video, shot from the Performance Data Recorder of a C7 Corvette Z06 by Frederick Chin, of Chin Motorsports, at the Circuit of The Americas, offers an interesting study not only on the virtues of driver skill, but also the realities of a typical track day and how they differ from some common misconceptions.
While the new Z06 is by no means a dog around a road course, posting a better time than the mighty Porsche 918 at Virginia International Speedway earlier this year (with some caveats), from a sheer performance metrics standpoint, it still pales in comparison to the 903 horsepower, million-dollar McLaren P1.
At the level of performance both of these cars can dish out, driver skill becomes a major factor in wringing out what these beasts are capable of – there are very few individuals that can fully exploit either of them.
Still, when a Corvette that’s at a 250-horsepower-deficit and that rings up a price tag that’s less than a tenth of the P1’s can keep the McLaren in its sights during a lap around CoTA, we take note. However, a number of other factors are also worth mentioning before we jump to any conclusions here.
While it’s clear that Chin knows the CoTA layout and is well acquainted with the Z06, traffic also plays a major factor in the Z06’s ability to keep pace with the P1, as does the car that spins in the front of them about 30 seconds into the video, which prompts some momentary precaution by the driver in McLaren.
When things open up a bit, the McLaren leaves the Z06 behind as though it were parked. Let us know what you think in the comments below.