Ah, the distinctive sound of a V10 engine. There are a handful of cars using the 10 pot, and this drag racing video features two that are arguably the best known. The Dodge Viper used a V10 exclusively during its nearly three-decade production. The Audi R8 has a Lamborghini V10, and now we see how both cars compare to each other in speed competition.
It’s a pretty fitting matchup, as both cars feature naturally aspirated V10 engines and carry just two people. Follow-up day He recently posted a series of drag racing videos on YouTube that line up front-engine and mid-engine cars to narrow a wide field of competitors to just two. This clip represents the final showdown: front engine versus center engine.
However, the cars are not completely the same. In addition to the engine location, the Viper is slightly modified with headers and an engine tune. The video says its 8.4-liter V10 develops around 700 horsepower (522 kilowatts), which sounds like a very unfair fight for the second-generation R8 and its 532-hp (397 kW) mill. However, the R8 has all-wheel drive and a quick-change dual-clutch transmission, and its engine is also out of stock. Equipped with a stage 2 tune and exhaust upgrade, the Audi is said to develop 670 hp (500 kW). This should be a good fight after all.
The format of the race is also a little different. Rather than launching from a stop on a quarter-mile strip, the action takes place on a track with a continuous start. That negates Audi’s all-wheel drive advantage, but doesn’t prevent the car from winning the first sprint. Admittedly, the Audi driver seems to jump the gun a bit at launch, and while the Viper is gaining ground, it’s not enough to win.
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The second race sees a smoother start, with the Viper possibly gaining a slight advantage. It is an advantage that is maintained throughout the pull, with the robust American machine finishing far ahead of the Audi. This rolling race also started at a slower speed: 30 mph compared to 40 mph for the first race. It is unclear whether the slower speed was an advantage for the Viper.
With one win in each column, the stage is set for a decisive third race, but sadly, technical problems prevented that from happening. As such, we are left with a kind of dilemma. Stock for stock, the Viper would seem to have a distinct advantage, but running from an excavation would certainly give Audi A tremendous advantage. Perhaps the real winner here is us, as we can sit back and enjoy a 20-cylinder symphony of supercars in action.
