Hard to believe this is our 12th edition of Best Driver’s Car. Some may recall the original concept, Best Handling Car, and all of the sensors, stickers, and other gear we attached to the season’s hottest sports cars, all in the name of determining what makes great-handling cars so great.
Over time, we moved to a more human-centered approach, looking beyond yaw angle and step steer to the full driving experience, from canyon roads to track modes and the transitions in between.
BDC tests both human and machine, as it marks the beginning of our most grueling, test-heavy part of the year. This year, the bulk of BDC spanned eight straight days, 8,000 total miles driven, 80 tires scorched, and 40-degree temperature swings endured.
To maximize time for photo, video, hill climbs, and hot laps, every day started early and ended late—with lots of hurry up and wait. Near the end, if you showed me one of our supercars, I could show you a guy tired of driving it.
Except for an Aussie named Quang. After getting married, I conned my bride into an Australian honeymoon, which was actually an excuse to visit family we don’t see often. While there, I made an offhand invitation to my cousin’s husband, Quang, a dentist, photo hobbyist, and massive car nerd. “If you’re willing to fly out, wash cars, load tires, and snap photos, I’ll see what I can do,” I told him. He bought a nonrefundable plane ticket before the dates were even finalized.
To see our traveling circus through his fresh eyes was an unexpected treat. After he had time to process it all, I asked him what surprised him about BDC, expecting commentary on the face-melting speed of the Senna, the easy drivability of the Hellcat Redeye, or even the terrible Vietnamese sandwiches we ate in King City.
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“The scale—I didn’t expect the amount of work that went on behind the scenes,” he replied. “Also, how smooth the operation was, from production to logistics, photography to video. The team just knew what they were doing and went about it like professionals.” Quang was also impressed by the driving skills of all the editors and video talent—compliments we return in kind. His images are seen below and scattered throughout the BDC package. Quang also piloted the BMW M2 Competition for the cover shot. Nice work, mate.
Speaking of cover shots, about that Corvette: There’s always some risk in putting four wheels into the air, but we do our best to mitigate any danger. The location of the shoot is a lightly trafficked road we know very well. We didn’t have the same familiarity with the car, as we were the first outlet in the world to test the new mid-engine Corvette, but sending it was a calculated risk.
We know Chevrolet has done extensive testing at the Nürburgring, particularly for Corvette and Camaro. In fact, Flying Car mode was developed specifically for the 2014 Camaro Z/28 to ensure the electronic stability control system wouldn’t wouldn’t cut power midair at the Flugplatz (airport) section of the ’Ring.
For the C8, we decided Tour mode was the best bet, reasoning that the plushest setting of the magnetic ride control shocks would make for the softest landing. And we were right: The new Corvette lands as smoothly as it launches—and it’s a grin-maker from beginning to end. Hope you feel the same way about this issue.
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