Today, Motor Trend announced the winner of its 2011 Best Driver’s Car competition. The Ferrari 458 Italia took the top honors, beating out the other ten cars in the field. The annual roundup takes into account several factors, including lapping at California’s Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, instrumented testing and street driving.

Interestingly, the 458 Italia didn’t have the quickest lap time, nor did it record the best straight-line numbers. A Chevrolet Corvette Z06 with the Z07 suspension package and barely street-legal tires managed a blistering 1:34.43 second lap at Laguna Seca, beating the 458 Italia by nearly two seconds. The 458 Italia also fell short of winning the acceleration tests, losing out to the 2012 Nissan GT-R and its all-wheel-drive.

So why did it win? You’ll have read the full article over at MotorTrend.com, or hit the jump to see a video of all eleven contenders drag race simultaneously at the El Toro Marine base.