Seat Cupra as quick as a GT3 (996.1)?

[fergus]

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

Pretty impressive for a FWD hatch

[FTW]

Was the 996.1 on Cup tyres?

[Harris_I]

I am not that surprised. Back when Dubai ran a pilot touring car championship that mixed Seat Supercopas with road-going 996 GT3s modified for racing, the Supercopas were marginally quicker on the same tyres. I don't think the Seat race car was a million miles off the road car.

[marky911]

That's progress....

[DiscoColin]

FTW said:

Was the 996.1 on Cup tyres?

No - they didn't even make them at the time. Michelin PS2 most likely.

[ttdan]

Would like to see the video.

[stef1808]

slightly offtopic - does anyone see possible a stripped e46 being quicker then a 997 gt3 ?

[ttdan]

An M3? Yes, with the right driver.

[Harris_I]

stef1808 said:

slightly offtopic - does anyone see possible a stripped e46 being quicker then a 997 gt3 ?

Too many variables. Assuming same driver and same tyres, and assuming the 997 retains its original PASM dampers, then a race modified E46 will be quicker but stripping alone will probably not be enough for a high speed circuit.

[Tripe Bypass]

DiscoColin said:

FTW said:

Was the 996.1 on Cup tyres?

No - they didn't even make them at the time. Michelin PS2 most likely.

PZero Rosso IIRC.

[Gibbo205]

Tripe Bypass said:

PZero Rosso IIRC.

Junk tyres on the 996 GT3, the cupra is using tyres 15 years newer, Michelins latest and best cup 2.

Take that same 996.1 GT3 now, fit it with cups, re-run it and I'd hazard a guess of a 7:48-7:52 lap, maybe faster. M3 CSL did 7:50 on cups, 997 Carrera S managed 7:50 on PS2's I believe. Fit them all on cup 2's and you'd save another 2-3s again as well, probably bringing the 996 GT3 and CSL to around 7:46 region....

The 996 GT3 is not slower, its just in the last ten years tyres have vastly improved.

Edited by Gibbo205 on Wednesday 5th March 13:25