The T350 and Top Gear test track power lap time

[Cayman48]

Hello guys

I'm a french owner of a dark blue T350. And I'm so happy with it.
We all know the T350 is a lightweight powerful car build for track.

But what the hell is going on with Top Gear test track power lap time ???
On wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Top_Gear_test...

The Porsche Cayman S, 295hp and more or less 1450kg (wich I had but never gone on track with it) is faster than our T350
And again the same car would be faster than the Chevrolet Corvette C6 LS2
And again the T350 would be almost the same time as a 370ZGT ?!?! Or whorst, a Chevrolet Camaro SS wich is a

So the big question is can we give credit to those lap times ? yes/no/Maybe/fk...


Please Help ...

Cheers
Frederic

Edited by Cayman48 on Friday 9th March 09:51

[SAGRIFF]

From memory a factory Cerbera 4.5 Red Rose did a 1.31 in good conditions with the stig behind the wheel, it takes more than good power to weight to make a car go quick around a track,

invest in some decent dampers/springs/set up/rubber and that will make a massive difference on track,


don't forget a lot of cars on the top gear track list had fitted gucci road legal track day rubber as well,

[Cayman48]

SAGRIFF said:

it takes more than good power to weight to make a car go quick around a track,

Of course but I thought the T350 would have had more than only a good ratio hp/weight ...

SAGRIFF said:

invest in some decent dampers/springs/set up/rubber and that will make a massive difference on track,

Previous owners of mine already upgraded with parts from the Sag : Brakes, suspensions,... I'll find out the exact list.


But Still confused about that

Edited by Cayman48 on Friday 9th March 10:07

Edited by Cayman48 on Friday 9th March 10:08

Edited by Cayman48 on Friday 9th March 10:09

[SAGRIFF]

Didn't the gayman S have Michelin cup tyres as standard, they would be worth at least 2 seconds.

[Cayman48]

I dont'know but I don't like so much this car either

[Geoff Ashcroft]

The TG lap times are hardly scientific IMO. I'm sure they only use a stop watch, so you can guesstimate your own time and conclusion from that. Hardly the same accuracy as Brighton Speed Trials.... Cynical I know, but its all done in the name of entertainment

[Laser Sag]

I could be wrong but if memory serves me well they had a lot of problems with the T350 that day, think something was way out on the setup because the Stig couldn't keep it on the track.
How much of that might have been a dig at TVR as TG are wont to do or wether there was a suspension/ alignment or tyre problem I dont know.

As much as the Z350 is a good car I would be very impressed if it could stay with the T350 on the track, over a bumpy B road then it may well stay in touch.

Just be happy that you have a much more desirable, rarer and enjoyable car than all those around it on the timing board.

[Cayman48]

Laser Sag said:

Just be happy that you have a much more desirable, rarer and enjoyable car than all those around it on the timing board.

Don't worry. I am !

[jrb43]

From memory, the feature was about how TVR were looking to make the T350 perfect for both the road and track but how an extreme setup for one compromises the ability on the other. I think the Stig then did a lap with the "perfect compromise". To be honest, it wasn't that educational. Not like 5th gear's review with Vicki B-H. Though I can't remember much of what she said

[cabbron]

was that the one that vicky was cold?

[Tom74TVR]

F

cabbron said:

was that the one that vicky was cold?

Yep :-)

[crimbo]

There were 2 reviews from memory an early chameleon green car that had a nasty set up and the spectraflair silver that hamster and VBH reviewed which did the time in 1.27 I think. But it was with the old stig that was reportedly over 2secs a lap slower than the others, He also did a Lambo murci time in mid 1.20s which later went round A LOT faster with a different stig.

[Cayman48]

It's a little more clear now.
Thanks for your contribution

I'm really enjoying the t350, I love it.
My next car could be an ultima GTR
for track use only as they are very hard to registrer in France (not surprising)
The only problem it's that it's not as beautiful as the T350 !

Cheers

Edited by Cayman48 on Wednesday 21st March 13:30

[Talksteer]

The TVR T350C times were done on a cold damp day, also the Stig hates TVRs.

I would suggest that the issues are likely to be confidence on the follow through and braking and cornering into the second to last corner.

On the same day with the same drivers Autocar managed to get the T350 around Rockingham faster than a 996 GT3 and an Noble M12 GTO-3

[Cayman48]

Talksteer said:

On the same day with the same drivers Autocar managed to get the T350 around Rockingham faster than a 996 GT3 and an Noble M12 GTO-3

That's great ! Can't find anything about that on the Internet what are your sources ?
Faster than a 996 GT3 and M12 GTO-3....that would be very fast

[PascalBuyens]

Cayman48 said:

Hello guys
a Chevrolet Camaro SS wich is a

Have you ever driven one? You'd be surprised how well it handles...

[steveT350C]

Cayman48 said:

Talksteer said:

On the same day with the same drivers Autocar managed to get the T350 around Rockingham faster than a 996 GT3 and an Noble M12 GTO-3

That's great ! Can't find anything about that on the Internet what are your sources ?
Faster than a 996 GT3 and M12 GTO-3....that would be very fast

http://www.fastestlaps.com/tracks/rockingham.html

[Cayman48]

That's great but...
Please don't blame me because I don't want to be annoying at all but it's hard to believe that the T350 would be faster than some of the cars I've seen below.


So I think I have the answer to my question : We can't give credit to those lap times
But I don't have the answer to my other question : How fast are our T350.
And it might be no real answer...

I'v been seated in a Camaro for a small trip in USA, I really like it, I almsot bought one few months ago
Sure, it handle very good but it's still heavy and not build to be fast on a track.
5 series from BMW would handle very good too...but it's more for cruising.

[Talksteer]

steveT350C said:

Cayman48 said:

Talksteer said:

On the same day with the same drivers Autocar managed to get the T350 around Rockingham faster than a 996 GT3 and an Noble M12 GTO-3

That's great ! Can't find anything about that on the Internet what are your sources ?
Faster than a 996 GT3 and M12 GTO-3....that would be very fast

http://www.fastestlaps.com/tracks/rockingham.html

I had the original article, but to sum it up they had Takuma Sato and Justin Wilson plus 2 touring car drivers drive all the cars, this filtered out any driver preferences.

The T350C was the fastest car there with doors only an Aerial Atom a GT-70 and a JP1 went faster. The Radical time was not representative as that was a "road set up one" which didn't handle and the Westfield XTR-2 was the only car run in the wet. The Pagani Zonda couldn't get its power down and cooked its tyres.

The key to the TVRs success was its ability to pull high lateral G and stop fast (plus not being too slow in a straight line :-) though it's speed trap times were slightly lower than the GT3 or Noble). I think the Rockingham circuit suited a TVR as it is a bit of a point and squirt track.

What lets my car down is stability through high speed direction changes and non-straight braking zones.

[TV8]

Talksteer said:

I think the Rockingham circuit suited a TVR as it is a bit of a point and squirt track.

Didnt seem to suit the Tamora!