The Ultimate Power-To-Weight Ratio Drag Race

There are a lot of factors affecting how fast a car can rip through the quarter mile, including its power-to-weight ratio. But the big debate in racing is just how much of a factor that one thing is. After all, other aspects of a vehicle such as gearing ratios, tire composition, and aerodynamics also play big roles. Finally, someone has decided to test this out using a completely ridiculous matchup.

C6 Corvette sets an impressive racing record.

That’s right, Hoonigan is back with another This Vs That race and this one is a real doozie. After all, they’re putting a sandrail against a modified S550 Shelby GT500. You might think this is a lopsided race and you’re probably right, although maybe not in the direction you believe.

The sandrail made an appearance in a previous Hoonigan This Vs That off-road race and things didn’t go so well. The full interference engine suffered an internal collision between a piston and valve, causing the driver to lose.

But don’t think this thing is a pushover. The sandrail tips the scale at about 900 lbs. In other words, it’s lighter than a fair number of the big boy motorcycles. On top of that, the methanol-injected engine is churning out around 400-horsepower.

Then there’s the 2022 Shelby GT500. It’s modified with an upper pulley, upgraded intake, and an E85 system, which results in the mill cranking out 925-hp. Out of the box, these muscle cars are spaceships and plenty fast on the drag strip, so in modified form this thing should be an absolute killer.

But, the Shelby is tipping the scale at over 4,000 lbs. Thus, the power-to-weight ratio greatly favors the sandrail. So, is that figure really that important when it comes to racing? Or are there other factors which are more crucial?

This is one of the most interesting drag races Hoonigan has run yet. We don’t want to spoil the results, but they sure are interesting. Watch the video for yourself and tell us what you think.

Image via Hoonigan/YouTube