For almost every car, spoilers are simply an aesthetic choice rather than any sort of functional performance addition. When it comes to high-speed racing though, the right spoiler can mean the difference between victory and your car launching end-over-end into the air while you hang on for dear life.

GM demonstrates the difference downforce can make with the 2014 Camaro Z/28, which makes some subtle and not-so-subtle changes from the standard Camaro SS.

The chin and rear decklid spoiler are two of the more obvious changes to the Z/28, which GM says generates 440 more pounds of downforce than the Camaro SS at 150 MPH. GM admits the Camaro SS actually generates some uplift at these speeds, which isn’t what you want in a racing situation.

Another big difference between the SS and Z/28 is the heat extractor hood, which not only draws cool air over the engine but helps reduce lift by giving that air someplace to go besides down. On the bottom of the car, an “aero closeout panel” underneath the engine smooths out airflow forces close to the road.

These downforce differences drastically improve the handling of the Camaro in the corners, and especially at high speeds. With a 505 horsepower LS7 engine under the hood and all that extra downforce, the Z/28 is going to be a hard car to beat in the twisties.