Corvette C8 Stingray turns heads on its way to fifth at MOTOR’s Performance Car of the Year 2022

Left-field right-hooker middles it as the Corvette C8 Stingray grabs attention and headlines to finish fifth at Performance Car of the Year 2022.

“Yes! You little bloody ripper.” The unexpected outburst was the only way I knew how to deal with what had just transpired on the track. Peeling into the paddock of Phillip Island I slapped the wheel of the Corvette C8 with sheer joy.

Australians have been waiting an age for a factory-delivered right-hand drive Corvette direct from Bowling Green, Kentucky. Now that it’s here, we’re all the richer for it. Of all the PCOTY contenders, none shouldered the same weight of anticipation as the C8. Not only would this be Australia’s first official Corvette, but it also represented the most drastic, fundamental step-change in the nameplate’s history.

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As a road car the C8 is a fantastic package. It delivers its 369kW and 637Nm progressively, and driving it on a flowing road is a smooth and involved process that rewards a keen driver. This package has a great depth of capability that sidesteps obvious American clichés, golf-bag sized boot notwithstanding. Bernie put it best when he said that the C8 is equally at home on Sunset Boulevard as it is in the Canyons.

Quinn noted that it felt like the LT2 engine is perched on relatively soft mounts making it more refined on the daily grind. GM engineers haven’t sacrificed daily useability for back-road fun, then going one step further and creating a package that can do both while being incredibly rewarding on a race track

The biggest point of contention was its steering, which a number of judges noted could be hard to get a proper connection with. The Corvette was easy to place, but judges wanted a stronger connection and feel through the wheel. If you don’t have your trail braking technique down pat, you’ll need to brush up for the C8. Luffy stresses that carrying the brake into a corner is vital for keeping the front axle planted. From there the Corvette rotates naturally, with heaps of shove on corner exit.

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The cabin is drenched in the induction roar of the 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8, and despite its large capacity, the LT2 unit rockets towards redline in second, third, and fourth gears. Things begin to wane in fifth however, with a ratio that seems more suited to a salt flat than the straights of Phillip Island.

A handful of ergonomic foibles like the slightly too high seating position and odd cabin architecture rounded out the judge’s criticisms. These are nit-picks more than anything, and while the styling proved controversial for some, this isn’t Best Looking Car Of The Year.

There’s more to come from the Corvette in Australia, and the rest of the performance car market has just been put on notice. This is a car that has been built, lovingly, by people that care about the art of driving and if you find yourself driving back into pit lane in a C8, you may begin to understand why sometimes you just have to slap the steering wheel and yell with joy.

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The judges’ comments

Alex Affat

“Shatters virtually every stereotype of an American sports car... except for interior quality and layout.”

Ranking: 5th

Andy Enright

“A confession. I thought the ’Vette would be a bit of a joke and I was completely wrong. It has real talent.”

Ranking: 5th

Trent Giunco

“The Corvette gives you real confidence. Steering’s not great but it’s quick, forgiving and well priced.”

Ranking: 5th

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Cameron Kirby

“The Corvette delivers great torque and a sweet chassis balance. Ergonomically quite confused though.”

Ranking: 3rd

Bernie Quinn

“A pleasant surprise. The finish feels a bit cheap but it’s comfortable, capable and has its own character.”

Ranking: 6th

Luffy’s view

“Really fun to drive on the limit – thank god for Americans and their recognition of sound. Probably the biggest downer is the gearing.”

The key figures