When sitting behind the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS and the Ferrari 458 Italia, the difference between the ways in which these naturally aspirated heroes deliver their blows is phenomenal and yet the on-paper performance brings the two extremely close.
And when the two high-revving gods happen to meet in the real world, the spectacle is guaranteed. The video below will demonstrate just that, bringing the two next to each other at the drag strip.
Porsche's track-savvy Neunelfer and Ferrari's retired V8 proposal met at the zMAX Dragway in Concord, NC, as part of a 1,320 feet shenanigan included in this year's goldRush Rally.
Alas, the race was compromised by the Rennsport Neunelfer experiencing serious wheelspin at the start - this came as quite a surprise, especially since the Porsche's rear tires are considerably wider than those of the Maranello machine (we're talking 325s vs. 295s here).
We can tell you this much: in ideal conditions, the Porsche could complete the quarter mile run in the uber-low 11s area, while the Fezza can even dive into the high-10s range.
The 458 Italia has a slight advantage in terms of both power-to-weight and torque, but this isn't the only thing that makes it faster. You see, the GT3 RS is a track weapon, so it delivers considerably more downforce than the Fezza, which is not exactly what you're looking for when visiting the drag strip.
In theory, the two are evenly matched in terms of sprints, but only up to around 80 mph (130 km/h). From that point on, all the elements mentioned above mix in favor of the Ferrari, giving it the edge. As for those of you wondering how the track-savvy nature of the Porsche would influence a track battle, we'll remind you the GT3 RS can lap the Nurburgring in 7:20, which makes it 8 seconds quicker than the Ferrari 458 Italia.
With the 8th edition of the goldRush Rally running from May 13 to May 21, expect to see more adventures from the event.
In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist. Full profile
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