Is a GT3 the only road car truly happy on track?
Discussion
A lot of variables in this tbh.
As mentioned above I think, to some the gt3’s are too roady for track and to others they’re too track for road.
It’s a pretty subjective thing ultimately and depends on what you want from a car.
I’m an ex racer who doesn’t track his road cars. A gt3 would do my tits in on the road. I’d just buy a proper track slag if I wanted to track. Radicals are great, excellent support but not exactly cheap either (depends on what you want to spend). I don’t think sportscars or super cars make much sense on track personally unless you’re wiping your ass with 50£ notes.
GT3’s are probably one of the most reliable cars in their sector to track though. Whether they’re the best is debatable but they’re certainly an excellent car.
As mentioned above I think, to some the gt3’s are too roady for track and to others they’re too track for road.
It’s a pretty subjective thing ultimately and depends on what you want from a car.
I’m an ex racer who doesn’t track his road cars. A gt3 would do my tits in on the road. I’d just buy a proper track slag if I wanted to track. Radicals are great, excellent support but not exactly cheap either (depends on what you want to spend). I don’t think sportscars or super cars make much sense on track personally unless you’re wiping your ass with 50£ notes.
GT3’s are probably one of the most reliable cars in their sector to track though. Whether they’re the best is debatable but they’re certainly an excellent car.
Edited by Finding Neutral on Saturday 26th March 18:17
wong said:
Suzuki Swift Sport? 2nd Gen.
Yeah, it's not fast like all the others here. But wasn't it used as a "Ring hire" car with hardly any modifications - Harness? cage?
The Rent4Ring cars have fancy suspension (KW and Ohlins) plus track tyres and brake pads. The 1.6 cars didn't have any 'tuning' I believe, but the newer turbo cars have had a slight power increase.Yeah, it's not fast like all the others here. But wasn't it used as a "Ring hire" car with hardly any modifications - Harness? cage?
My Cayman GTS is costing me £550/day in consumables, add petrol (£200), track entry fee, insurance, it’s over £1000/ day. Plus the hassle of constant garage visits. I have thought many many times about a GT3 / RS but costs would obviously be even higher, and I’m not even counting depreciation. And then on motorway driving back home the Cayman is fine, but tyre noise is noticeable, and around town it’s a bit stiff. Again, GT3 would probably be quite a bit worse in that respect.
I rented a powerful Caterham for a trackday recently and it was an epiphany. More fun, more speed through the corners, no hassle with having to monitor and worry about pads/tyre wear. And then after an adrenaline fueled day, I drove home in my comfortable, sound-insulated daily on not too wide , high profile 19” tyres.
This is not what OP’s original question was about but with £200k budget for a track toy, I’d spend a small part of it renting Caterhams or something else track-oriented and the rest on whatever nice road car you want.
I rented a powerful Caterham for a trackday recently and it was an epiphany. More fun, more speed through the corners, no hassle with having to monitor and worry about pads/tyre wear. And then after an adrenaline fueled day, I drove home in my comfortable, sound-insulated daily on not too wide , high profile 19” tyres.
This is not what OP’s original question was about but with £200k budget for a track toy, I’d spend a small part of it renting Caterhams or something else track-oriented and the rest on whatever nice road car you want.
I can speak for the Renaultsport having an r26 and had a clio 182.
They are as happy on track as on the road. Nothing particularly fragile about them.
Whilst the bog standard mk2 megane had issues, the RS version was much more robust.
The mk2 r26, is arguably not as comparable as perhaps the r26r is, but much of the underpinnings on the cars are the same. It was the weight saving that turned the r26r into a cult hero but honestly, the standard more road orientated r26 is just as happy going round a track as its lighter brother. You can of course strip the weight yourself and save a penny or two as well as the r26r is much rarer and therefore much more expensive - though - if you are talking gt3 money, expense is perhaps not an issue here.
As for driving experience, it's a common thread amongst club/forum members about what they'd have to spend to replace an rs megane (mk2/mk3) in order to get a car that drives quite as well in both settings and isn't compromised by either. I am a big fan. Despite being fwd it really does handle brilliant my mk2. Sharp on turn in, very little body roll or understeer. Areas for improvement can be made in the brake area and an anti lift kit really helps keep her flat under acceleration Both help cornering. Dynamically she is remarkably happy to get her arse out but is also very correctable. It doesn't happen without warning either, just perhaps most don't expect a fwd car to behave that way so over correct. Then say its not very good (caveat just conversations i've been part of - not everyone says it by any means).
Then the 182, is just a peppy, grippy, awesome thing. I have to say i've heard the 200 is more of a complete car and the 182 is a bit more "raw". But i won't go too much into as i've only had a couple of laps in the 182 and far more in the r26.
I'm sure someone who is probably a much better driver than I, and maybe has an RS will comment and help more if you were interested in exploring that further.
They are as happy on track as on the road. Nothing particularly fragile about them.
Whilst the bog standard mk2 megane had issues, the RS version was much more robust.
The mk2 r26, is arguably not as comparable as perhaps the r26r is, but much of the underpinnings on the cars are the same. It was the weight saving that turned the r26r into a cult hero but honestly, the standard more road orientated r26 is just as happy going round a track as its lighter brother. You can of course strip the weight yourself and save a penny or two as well as the r26r is much rarer and therefore much more expensive - though - if you are talking gt3 money, expense is perhaps not an issue here.
As for driving experience, it's a common thread amongst club/forum members about what they'd have to spend to replace an rs megane (mk2/mk3) in order to get a car that drives quite as well in both settings and isn't compromised by either. I am a big fan. Despite being fwd it really does handle brilliant my mk2. Sharp on turn in, very little body roll or understeer. Areas for improvement can be made in the brake area and an anti lift kit really helps keep her flat under acceleration Both help cornering. Dynamically she is remarkably happy to get her arse out but is also very correctable. It doesn't happen without warning either, just perhaps most don't expect a fwd car to behave that way so over correct. Then say its not very good (caveat just conversations i've been part of - not everyone says it by any means).
Then the 182, is just a peppy, grippy, awesome thing. I have to say i've heard the 200 is more of a complete car and the 182 is a bit more "raw". But i won't go too much into as i've only had a couple of laps in the 182 and far more in the r26.
I'm sure someone who is probably a much better driver than I, and maybe has an RS will comment and help more if you were interested in exploring that further.
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