Monday 7th July 2008

RS Aiming For 8min 15sec 'Ring Lap

PistonHeads learns that Ford Focus RS and Megane R26R are near identical around Nurburgring

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Development mules have been lapping the 'Ring

An early development mule of the new Ford Focus RS with between 250-260bhp has been lapping the Nurburgring in 8min 27seconds, PistonHeads has learnt. The car has around 45bhp less than the production version and was driven by a Bentley test driver on a very hot day.

A source has told us that when the full fat version arrives with 295bhp, and with a racing driver at the wheel, we should expect a lap time of 8min 15sec or maybe less. We have also learnt that whereas Ford originally announced the RS will have 302lb ft when it is launched it will in fact have 324lb ft.

Meanwhile Renault’s new super-Megane, the R26R, has apparently been unofficially clocked around the ‘Ring at 8min 12sec but that was on Toyo Cup tyres. The RS is understood to have been riding on totally standard Continentals when it did its time, and now Ford is seriously thinking about offering Cup tyres as a brochure option for the car.

[RB Will]

Fast but still slower than than a standard Scoob or Evo.

[stevieb]

RB Will said:

Fast but still slower than than a standard Scoob or Evo.

What does a Standard Scoob / Evo do around the ring now??

[kieronj]

PH said:

Ford is seriously thinking about offering Cup tyres as a brochure option for the car.

Will they offer a racing driver as an option so the car you buy can match the 8m 15secs time?

stevieb said:

RB Will said:

Fast but still slower than than a standard Scoob or Evo.

What does a Standard Scoob / Evo do around the ring now??

8min 24secs.

http://www.evilpig.ch/photos/data/media/62/Rundenz...

Edited by kieronj on Monday 7th July 12:17

[chunkymonkey71]

If Ford want to go the whole Hog and be like Renault why don't they offer dodgy build quality and suspect electrics too???

[tridave]

And stick the transit interior in it and it will be like the scoobie and evo

[Podie]

chunkymonkey71 said:

If Ford want to go the whole Hog and be like Renault why don't they offer dodgy build quality and suspect electrics too???

[anonymous-user]

RB Will said:

Fast but still slower than than a standard Scoob or Evo.

So according to the above 3 seconds slower but thousands cheaper than the Evo!

[oagent]

kieronj said:

Will they offer a racing driver as an option so the car you buy can match the 8m 15secs time?

yeah its on the options list between base box for the boot and MaxPower graphics

[mat205125]

tridave said:

And stick the transit interior in it and it will be like the scoobie and evo

[Podie]

oagent said:

kieronj said:

Will they offer a racing driver as an option so the car you buy can match the 8m 15secs time?

yeah its on the options list between base box for the boot and MaxPower graphics

Given your profile pic of the Beemer has non-standard wheels, different headlights (possible with light brows) and tinted windows, I find that quite an amusing comment... guess it's not your actual car?

[dinkel]

. . . with a racing driver at the wheel . . .

And what will an ordinary driver do?

Just interested how much difference it will make.

[Dagnut]

dinkel said:

. . . with a racing driver at the wheel . . .

And what will an ordinary driver do?

Just interested how much difference it will make.

how long is a piece of string?

[anonymous-user]

Podie said:

oagent said:

kieronj said:

Will they offer a racing driver as an option so the car you buy can match the 8m 15secs time?

yeah its on the options list between base box for the boot and MaxPower graphics

Given your profile pic of the Beemer has non-standard wheels, different headlights (possible with light brows) and tinted windows, I find that quite an amusing comment... guess it's not your actual car?

Got any drugs? Looks like maybe a caliper painted red in there too

Edited by Dave_ST220 on Monday 7th July 12:43

[NORTS]

dinkel said:

. . . with a racing driver at the wheel . . .

And what will an ordinary driver do?

Just interested how much difference it will make.

Probably around 9mins maybe a bit more.

[wab172uk]

Dave_ST220 said:

RB Will said:

Fast but still slower than than a standard Scoob or Evo.

So according to the above 3 seconds slower but thousands cheaper than the Evo!

Yes, but that's on a race track where FWD doesn't really matter.

Put the same 2 cars on a bumpy `B` road, and the Focus Driver will be watching the Evo pull away into the distance.

That was the problem with the Mk1. Great on smooth roads (or track) ste on bumpy roads.

[adz1811]

Why Dont they do a stripped out version, with just two buckets in the front.

[FWDRacer]

How fast would a Renault R26 or RS Focus circumnavigate my own 'ring. Because, meanwhile back in the real world, that piece of trivia is about as much use as finding out how fast a car can go around a circuit in the black forest.

Manufacturers are effectively cock jousting with a fixation on N'ring laptimes. It is like a drunken bore in pub telling you how fast his car is, and it gets quicker the more pints he's had

Lap times are arbitary - If you can't live with the car day-to-day it is nothing more than bragging rights and expensive garage jewellery. I don't subscribe to either ethos, and I doubt any Ph'er worth his/her salt would either.

:LightsFordracingbluetouchpaperandstandsback:

:edited to re-light, went out first time at first attempt

Edited by FWDRacer on Monday 7th July 12:49

[massive1]

I think the time is pretty damn good considering what EVO did to that M3 to get it anywhere near 8 mins.

[Munter]

dinkel said:

And what will an ordinary driver do?

Crash probably if they are trying to set a fastest time.

[havoc]

:yawn:

WGAF about 'ring-times! If it's not properly drivable on UK roads it'll be considered a failure. Probably still sell well, as the branding will see to that, but it won't be a true Subarishi competitor...