RE: Cayman GT4 at the 'ring: Time for Tea
Tuesday 9th February 2016
Yes, it's a Nurburgring lap, yes it's a Cayman GT4 and, yes, it's not the most recent video. All legitimate concerns. Well they would be, were it not for the fact that this is a spectacular Nordschleife lap.
Cayman GT4 at the 'ring: Time for Tea?
Just how good do you need to be for a 7:42 lap? See here!
What makes it so jaw-dropping is the driver's unflinching commitment; you may recognise that odd driving position and incredible speed from previous videos, this being Christian Gebhardt from Sportauto. 'If in doubt, flat out' would appear to be Christian's mantra...
Such is the performance of modern cars that a 7:42 at the Nurburgring doesn't really raise many eyebrows now. Watch this video and you'll be reminded of just what an achievement that is.
Watch the vid here.
Discussion
The amount of time he is in second gear to me indicates the gear ratio's are too long ? and he never got in to sixth gear so to me if he had shorter ratio's might be a bit quicker still. But what do I know the last time I did a lap of the Nurburgring was 35 years ago with 4 speed gear box before the current gp circuit loop even existed.
Since young Christian Gebhardt took over lap time duties from Horst von Saurma at sportAuto it seems like every car has had a 100bhp power upgrade.
He certainly holds less in reserve, but then Herr von Saurma did the Supertest Nordschleife lap for some seventeen years, twelve times a year in fearsome machinery like the Carrera GT, Gumpert Apollo, GT2RS etc. without putting a scratch on any of them.
He never boasted to set the ultimate laptime possible in any car, giving himself just one warm-up lap and then one flyer to give a reliable indication that would make all the cars comparable.
Gebhardt is faster, but he still needs to keep everything in one piece every time he goes out there.
Here's hoping that he does.
And no, I have never seen a car that needs second gear at so many places at the Ring as the GT4. It's just all wrong, on arguably the best performance car ever made.
Seeing CG exit Pflanzgarten1 in fourth and then having to shift down to third after exiting says it all really, the gearing just isn't natural.
I mean, I exit there in third, but a real driver in a real car would just go too fast there to drop below fourth normally.
He certainly holds less in reserve, but then Herr von Saurma did the Supertest Nordschleife lap for some seventeen years, twelve times a year in fearsome machinery like the Carrera GT, Gumpert Apollo, GT2RS etc. without putting a scratch on any of them.
He never boasted to set the ultimate laptime possible in any car, giving himself just one warm-up lap and then one flyer to give a reliable indication that would make all the cars comparable.
Gebhardt is faster, but he still needs to keep everything in one piece every time he goes out there.
Here's hoping that he does.
And no, I have never seen a car that needs second gear at so many places at the Ring as the GT4. It's just all wrong, on arguably the best performance car ever made.
Seeing CG exit Pflanzgarten1 in fourth and then having to shift down to third after exiting says it all really, the gearing just isn't natural.
I mean, I exit there in third, but a real driver in a real car would just go too fast there to drop below fourth normally.
I don't know. Everyone is saying the gearing is too long, yet he does look very busy fighting the steering wheel with 2 hands and changing gear with a third. I'm not sure if shorter gears would be ideal. For the road, yes shorter gear would be more fun and fast. But on a full blown track with speeds regularly in the 200s, I'm not sure shorter gearing is necessary. Afterall it is a manual
1. These Porsches are seriously over-geared - 2nd gear needed so often, it's a real shame.
2. Weird driving position, but obviously works for him - perhaps an ex-rally driver?
3. 7.42mins round the ring is incredibly fast for such an over geared and under powered car - the GT4 chassis must be something else!
Good lap though !
Kai
2. Weird driving position, but obviously works for him - perhaps an ex-rally driver?
3. 7.42mins round the ring is incredibly fast for such an over geared and under powered car - the GT4 chassis must be something else!
Good lap though !
Kai
kaivaksdal said:
1. These Porsches are seriously over-geared - 2nd gear needed so often, it's a real shame.
2. Weird driving position, but obviously works for him - perhaps an ex-rally driver?
3. 7.42mins round the ring is incredibly fast for such an over geared and under powered car - the GT4 chassis must be something else!
Good lap though !
Kai
what would you consider enough power ? this has a 3.4 litre 6 cylinder engine that's plenty in almost all circumstances2. Weird driving position, but obviously works for him - perhaps an ex-rally driver?
3. 7.42mins round the ring is incredibly fast for such an over geared and under powered car - the GT4 chassis must be something else!
Good lap though !
Kai
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