Lexus LFA Nurburgring
Discussion
The thing is, power:weight isn't the be all and end all of track times. Sure it helps, but there are other variables at play. When the GTR posted it's times, people were saying that it was impossible, or it was cheating or that Nissan managed to defy the laws of physics. None of those are true. These days, we have a much better understanding of physics, and that allows us to eke out the maximum potential from our cars. In 10 years, we'll be even better.
You have to take into account the following, when setting a decent lap: gearing, aerodynamics, suspension set up, tyres, brakes, the weather and the driver. At the end of the day, a record is a record, be it set by Monster up Pikes Peak or by a car on the Nurburgring.
You have to take into account the following, when setting a decent lap: gearing, aerodynamics, suspension set up, tyres, brakes, the weather and the driver. At the end of the day, a record is a record, be it set by Monster up Pikes Peak or by a car on the Nurburgring.
Swordman said:
The thing is, power:weight isn't the be all and end all of track times. Sure it helps, but there are other variables at play. When the GTR posted it's times, people were saying that it was impossible, or it was cheating or that Nissan managed to defy the laws of physics. None of those are true. These days, we have a much better understanding of physics, and that allows us to eke out the maximum potential from our cars. In 10 years, we'll be even better.
You have to take into account the following, when setting a decent lap: gearing, aerodynamics, suspension set up, tyres, brakes, the weather and the driver. At the end of the day, a record is a record, be it set by Monster up Pikes Peak or by a car on the Nurburgring.
The problem is that Porsche and Chevrolette (and everyone else) also know a thing or two about how to get around a track quickly, so power:weight is the only thing that separates them unless the LFA has some new amazing technology that nobody else had thought of.You have to take into account the following, when setting a decent lap: gearing, aerodynamics, suspension set up, tyres, brakes, the weather and the driver. At the end of the day, a record is a record, be it set by Monster up Pikes Peak or by a car on the Nurburgring.
Who gives a.....?
Totally immaterial what any car does round the ring in the hands of the factory test pilot.
And to champion it against cars 1 second slower, but only 1/3 of the cost (if not less!) is utterly pointless.
Lovely car, but the photo of it from the rear 3/4 in the link above, has me looking at it and saying to myself..."very Supra-ish looking".
Same money buys a Pagani, which no matter what angle you view it from, doesn't resemble anything other than a Zonda.
The new hurl (or however it's pronounced!) I can't warm to - it's doesnt flow, although the side profile balance is much better.
Totally immaterial what any car does round the ring in the hands of the factory test pilot.
And to champion it against cars 1 second slower, but only 1/3 of the cost (if not less!) is utterly pointless.
Lovely car, but the photo of it from the rear 3/4 in the link above, has me looking at it and saying to myself..."very Supra-ish looking".
Same money buys a Pagani, which no matter what angle you view it from, doesn't resemble anything other than a Zonda.
The new hurl (or however it's pronounced!) I can't warm to - it's doesnt flow, although the side profile balance is much better.
Edited by PJ S on Friday 2nd September 23:43
EDLT said:
The problem is that Porsche and Chevrolette (and everyone else) also know a thing or two about how to get around a track quickly, so power:weight is the only thing that separates them unless the LFA has some new amazing technology that nobody else had thought of.
Porsche's times seem very conservative. Mag editors with only a couple laps to acquaint themselves with the car can lap within 0-5 seconds of factory pilots (or seasoned racers like Rohrl) who spend hours upon hours honing the car on that very track. Some of Porsche's times are even reported while running in traffic during industry days.With regard to the ZR1, have you read 1st-hand driver accounts of how this car handles on bumpy, gnarly roads that throw in crests and odd cambers? Sport Auto's supertest, conducted on the Nordschleife is a good point to start. A smooth, flat racetrack is not the same as the 'Ring. And when you look at the pretty horrible aero balance that Sport Auto found in its wind tunnel, it's easy to see why the ZR1 isn't as fast as you might think; and 7:19 is crazy fast, make no mistake about it. On the smoother, flatter Hockenheim, where the driver can see better and commit more, and where load changes are more predictable, the ZR1 is in its element.
Last I heard, there's a lot more to going around a track than power:wt.
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