Race car comparisons
Discussion
Hi,
I'm helping make a big decision... The choice between 2 cars, we get to drive both of them on the same day at the same circuit so will be as close as you can get to a direct comparison. Just thinking of how to compare them as they will be very similar (Audi R8 GT3 Vs BMW Z4 GT3). Lap times will be within tenths of seconds because of Balance of Performance so out and out pace won't come into it. So far I've got a list of;
Driveability
Driver feeling
Vision
Brakes
Gearbox
Comfort
Anything else you guys can think of?
Cheers
Joe
I'm helping make a big decision... The choice between 2 cars, we get to drive both of them on the same day at the same circuit so will be as close as you can get to a direct comparison. Just thinking of how to compare them as they will be very similar (Audi R8 GT3 Vs BMW Z4 GT3). Lap times will be within tenths of seconds because of Balance of Performance so out and out pace won't come into it. So far I've got a list of;
Driveability
Driver feeling
Vision
Brakes
Gearbox
Comfort
Anything else you guys can think of?
Cheers
Joe
While lap times are going to be equal.. what helps overtake/defend? Punch out of a corner? Driveability if your sharing the car, will it work well on a slightly compromised setup. How easy are the cars to work on? Think of the lads if you need to do some quick repairs or setup changes, time saved there is extra time on track.
Joe Osborne said:
Hi,
I'm helping make a big decision... The choice between 2 cars, we get to drive both of them on the same day at the same circuit so will be as close as you can get to a direct comparison. Just thinking of how to compare them as they will be very similar (Audi R8 GT3 Vs BMW Z4 GT3). Lap times will be within tenths of seconds because of Balance of Performance so out and out pace won't come into it. So far I've got a list of;
Driveability
Driver feeling
Vision
Brakes
Gearbox
Comfort
Anything else you guys can think of?
Cheers
Joe
I'm glad you put comfort at the bottom of the list, giving it least priority? I wouldn't have thought comfort should come in to it!I'm helping make a big decision... The choice between 2 cars, we get to drive both of them on the same day at the same circuit so will be as close as you can get to a direct comparison. Just thinking of how to compare them as they will be very similar (Audi R8 GT3 Vs BMW Z4 GT3). Lap times will be within tenths of seconds because of Balance of Performance so out and out pace won't come into it. So far I've got a list of;
Driveability
Driver feeling
Vision
Brakes
Gearbox
Comfort
Anything else you guys can think of?
Cheers
Joe
I would however add traction to the list; around slow corners it's very difficult to overtake if the other car can pin the throttle a couple tenths before you!
robmlufc said:
While lap times are going to be equal.. what helps overtake/defend? Punch out of a corner? Driveability if your sharing the car, will it work well on a slightly compromised setup. How easy are the cars to work on? Think of the lads if you need to do some quick repairs or setup changes, time saved there is extra time on track.
Race pace will be added to the list! Sorry should of said my part is purely the driving aspect. There are far clever guys in the team to work out the engineering side of things. Fuel Consumption
Ease of access for set up/ maintenance/ repair
Reliability
All vital for endurance racing & the ease of access for the enginers is easily forgotten, but if you have a car that requires adjustment or repair but the guys have to spend a chunk of time stripping the car down first then you may be in trouble.
Reliability is difficult to judge on a test, but need to look at the reputation and track record of the cars involved and the type in general.
Ease of access for set up/ maintenance/ repair
Reliability
All vital for endurance racing & the ease of access for the enginers is easily forgotten, but if you have a car that requires adjustment or repair but the guys have to spend a chunk of time stripping the car down first then you may be in trouble.
Reliability is difficult to judge on a test, but need to look at the reputation and track record of the cars involved and the type in general.
The car that provides slick controls and real confidence on the brakes will be less tiring psychologically over long stints.
Also consider who the other drivers are and what their experience is. You could learn a lot from some whilst with others you may not get to drive much because they crash all the time.
Also consider who the other drivers are and what their experience is. You could learn a lot from some whilst with others you may not get to drive much because they crash all the time.
Cost! how much for the little bit. Bit that wear quick skid, pad disc's, how often the engine need rebuilding. one off tools need to maintain it. gearbox tools, does it have a speacial socket for the wheel nut etc
what car is easier to drive at the limit.
See if you can try both cars on new and old rubber. see how thebalance changes.
what car is easier to drive at the limit.
See if you can try both cars on new and old rubber. see how thebalance changes.
chevronb37 said:
Can't help so much with your quandry Joe, but well done for the win in Steve Tandy's Nissan R90 the other week. That car is an absolute monster.
Cheers! Bloody love that thing. Best thing I've ever driven by quite some margin. Had another victory taken away by a cruel gearbox failure at Imola last weekend. I've put a few onboard videos on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBuOjurqVig&feature=plcp) thats practice at Imola! 
The decision should largely be linked to the level of potential support from the factories. The Audi in unstoppable in the hands of WRT and Phoenix, but as a pure privateer-run car it doesn't seem as effective. The Z4s run well in various hands, without the benefit of massive backing and factory-supplied engineers and drivers. Jorge does a brilliant job engineering the WRT cars, undoubtedly, but their budget is huge - for example he's done loads of wind tunnel work, which has been validated by loads of straight line testing: on a GT3...
The Z4 is easier on tyres, also.
I remain convinced that the Z4 is the best GT3 car. If it had the power of the other cars (Merc, Audi, 458) it would be unstoppable.
The Z4 is easier on tyres, also.
I remain convinced that the Z4 is the best GT3 car. If it had the power of the other cars (Merc, Audi, 458) it would be unstoppable.
Ahonen said:
The decision should largely be linked to the level of potential support from the factories. The Audi in unstoppable in the hands of WRT and Phoenix, but as a pure privateer-run car it doesn't seem as effective. The Z4s run well in various hands, without the benefit of massive backing and factory-supplied engineers and drivers. Jorge does a brilliant job engineering the WRT cars, undoubtedly, but their budget is huge - for example he's done loads of wind tunnel work, which has been validated by loads of straight line testing: on a GT3...
The Z4 is easier on tyres, also.
I remain convinced that the Z4 is the best GT3 car. If it had the power of the other cars (Merc, Audi, 458) it would be unstoppable.
Agreed 100% with you on the factory Audi side. Infact with everything you said. The Z4 is easier on tyres, also.
I remain convinced that the Z4 is the best GT3 car. If it had the power of the other cars (Merc, Audi, 458) it would be unstoppable.
Drove both cars today at the Nurburgring. 4 degrees and raining... Not the best conditions but enough to make the decision a little easier. Over the to boys with the money to make the final call.
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