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I think the problem is that you're trying to understand why it's in a different class, but you're only looking at horsepower.
If you only take horsepower into consideration, then they aren't in a different class.... but then if you had a 350 horsepower Camaro then that would also be in the same class as far as you are concerned, except that the Camaro is better suited for drag racing.
To understand what sets the Z apart, you have to look at the whole package. The stock Z06's run with the Porsche 911 turbos, Ferraris, and Laborghinis on the road course. It is in THAT class of sports car. The regular C5 in stock form cannot compete in that 'class'. Also, the Z06 completes the 12 mile Nurburgring road course in Germany in 7:56. Here is a link to lap times from that track. Notice some of the slower cars, like Ferarri Maranello 550, Lamborghini Diablo, the Honda CBR-900, Porsche 993 Turbo, etc...
The Z06 is a special car for road racing. It's in another class from the regular Corvette. Don't look at just the horsepower. It's the whole package, designed to work together. The extra horsepower is just one small piece of the puzzle.
-Dave C '04 Z06
Link:
http://www.nordschleife.no/
If you only take horsepower into consideration, then they aren't in a different class.... but then if you had a 350 horsepower Camaro then that would also be in the same class as far as you are concerned, except that the Camaro is better suited for drag racing.
To understand what sets the Z apart, you have to look at the whole package. The stock Z06's run with the Porsche 911 turbos, Ferraris, and Laborghinis on the road course. It is in THAT class of sports car. The regular C5 in stock form cannot compete in that 'class'. Also, the Z06 completes the 12 mile Nurburgring road course in Germany in 7:56. Here is a link to lap times from that track. Notice some of the slower cars, like Ferarri Maranello 550, Lamborghini Diablo, the Honda CBR-900, Porsche 993 Turbo, etc...
The Z06 is a special car for road racing. It's in another class from the regular Corvette. Don't look at just the horsepower. It's the whole package, designed to work together. The extra horsepower is just one small piece of the puzzle.
-Dave C '04 Z06
Link:
http://www.nordschleife.no/