Corvette ZR1X and Ford Mustang GTD in middle of fierce drag race before a 2,031HP monster enters to steal the glory
Published on Oct 03, 2026 at 10:09 AM (UTC-4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Oct 03, 2026 at 10:09 AM (UTC-4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
A Corvette ZR1X and a Ford Mustang GTD found themselves massively overshadowed in their own drag race, when a 2,031hp monster soared to victory.
In the new series of The Grand Tour, the new trio of hosts decided to get themselves started with a drag race.
They decided to kick things off with a bang by drag racing three of the most powerful petrol cars to ever grace the US.
While the Corvette ZR1X and Ford Mustang GTD certainly pack a punch, they were totally overshadowed by what came racing up behind them.
The new series of The Grand Tour kicked off with a bang
It was the end of an era when Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May stepped down from hosting duties on The Grand Tour.
The trio certainly had their fun on the show, whether that was looking at custom cars or racing Bugatti Chirons against BMW M4s.
But alas, all good things must come to an end.
While May headed off to take his first driving test since 1980, Amazon Prime got busy hiring the replacements.
Then came the big moment earlier this year when Clarkson announced them.
The new presenters are all YouTubers: Thomas Holland and James Engelsman, both car YouTubers, and Francis Bourgeois, who’s mostly known as the ‘train guy’.
Needless to say, they had big shoes to fill.
But now the new series has kicked off in earnest – and here’s just one thing they’ve been getting up to so far.
A Corvette ZR1X and Ford Mustang GTD drag race sounds truly epic
Engelsman chose the Ford Mustang GTD as his car of choice, while Holland opted for the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.
The GTD packs a punch with a 5.2-liter Cross-Plane Crank V8, capable of 815hp, and a top speed of 202mph.
However, the Corvette ZR1X’s V8 and electric motor combo edges it out with 1,250hp and a top speed of 233mph.
Out on the track, the ZR1X pulled ahead pretty conclusively after the two initially started off neck-and-neck.
“It was close!” Englesman yelled in lament, as his rival overtook him.
It looked like a clear-cut victory for Holland, but then Bourgeois entered the picture with his car.
What car could possibly outshine these two titans?
In a scene straight out of a movie, Bourgeois shot into first place with ease.
It wasn’t even a competition at this point – Bourgeois was a yellow blur whizzing past his rivals with hilarious ease.
His car of choice? None other than the Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution Evo.
The stats speak for themselves – 2,031hp in a 6.6-liter Twin-Turbocharged V8, a top speed of 318mph, and capable of reaching 200mph in 10 seconds.
It’s no wonder that it was a slam-dunk victory for Bourgeois.
“[It is] the most powerful internal combustion engine production car in the world,” he informed his colleagues.
“When I put my foot down, everything else was left behind.”
“That’s the best defeat I’ve ever experienced,” Engelsman conceded.
That’s what someone gracious in defeat looks like.
You can catch new episodes of The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
