IOM TT Lap time - could a car beat it?

[Rollcage]

Having been watching the TT racing from the Isle of Man, I was wondering if a modern road car could equal the current lap record of 131.578mph?

The bikes are hitting over 190mph in places, so it would have to be a pretty quick car. I have seen the videos of Tony Pond managing 100mph in a Rover Vitesse - so would something like a Nissan GTR or a 997 GT3 RS manage 30mph faster today?

[anonymous-user]

Interesting question... i think some race cars with terrific drivers would stand a fair chance.

[dan19evans]

i think a Radical SR8LM or a caterham r500 superlight would have a good punt at it

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Typically cars are faster round any given circuit than bikes so I would imagine so.

[Rollcage]

dan19evans said:

i think a Radical SR8LM or a caterham r500 superlight would have a good punt at it

Its the top speed though that might be a problem - neither would hit anything like 190mph.

Also, parts of the TT course are pretty narrow and twisty - a car would not be able to straight-line them like a bike.......

[dan19evans]

Ultima gtr720 ?

[RWD cossie wil]

My money would be on a car like the ultima gtr or anything track focused. The time difference would be close IMHO, the car would obviously carry the speed through the corners, but the bikes acceleration out of corners is where the car would struggle to keep up...

I recon it would be close.

[Papa Hotel]

dan19evans said:

Ultima gtr720 ?

This must be the fastest road car although I couldn't see it being as compliant on the rough and bumpy road as a bike. Bike to edge it.

[Glosphil]

Wasn't this discussed, at great length, only a few months ago?

[Rollcage]

Glosphil said:

Wasn't this discussed, at great length, only a few months ago?

Very possibly! Cant imagine its the first time it has come up......



Seems to me that something like a 911 GT2 would do it, comparing respective lap times for road cars and bike around the 'Ring.

[dan19evans]

Rollcage said:

Glosphil said:

Wasn't this discussed, at great length, only a few months ago?

Very possibly! Cant imagine its the first time it has come up......



Seems to me that something like a 911 GT2 would do it, comparing respective lap times for road cars and bike around the 'Ring.

If a 911 GT2 could do it, an Ultima could smoke it.

[EDLT]

Glosphil said:

Wasn't this discussed, at great length, only a few months ago?

It was around the time of last year's TT.

[Trikster]

I did try in the 1.4tdci Fiesta I had on hire during TT week last year... I'm sure I was close... honest

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Ok. So round the Nordschleife the fastest bike is almost a minute adrift of the fastest car. So yes a car could beat a bike round the TT circuit.

I would have thought

[Gun]

Rollcage said:

Glosphil said:

Wasn't this discussed, at great length, only a few months ago?

Very possibly! Cant imagine its the first time it has come up......



Seems to me that something like a 911 GT2 would do it, comparing respective lap times for road cars and bike around the 'Ring.

T'was around this time last year, I think the general consensus was that some sort of Pikes Peak racer with the correct gearing would probably better it but not much else would.

[EDLT]

Tony Pond doing a 100mph lap of the TT course in a "standard" Rover Vitesse that seems to be on slicks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnKyMgry9iQ

[pilchardthecat]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Ok. So round the Nordschleife the fastest bike is almost a minute adrift of the fastest car. So yes a car could beat a bike round the TT circuit.

I would have thought

Very different circuits though. Would love to see it done

Closest thing may be the bike&sidecar race

[Papa Hotel]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Ok. So round the Nordschleife the fastest bike is almost a minute adrift of the fastest car. So yes a car could beat a bike round the TT circuit.

I would have thought

One is a racetrack, the other is a British rural road. Very different terrain, the TT circuit almost certainly favours the bike.

[supersingle]

I reckon you'd need a downforce car. You couldn't use a ground effect car though as the course is very bumpy making grip unpredictable.

So yes, a car with huge power, say 600 bhp/ton and big wings could beat a bike.

I can't think of a road car that could do it.

[neilski]

Caparo T1?