RE: Porsche 911 GT2 RS: 6:47.3

[isaldiri]

footsoldier said:

Here's AP explaining the lap and why it's quicker than 918. Glad it's much what I said previously :-)

http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/car-technolog...

you mean you actually believe anything that Preuninger says....?

[jamespink]

Kawasicki said:

I've only watched a couple of minutes of the video so far, but what I find interesting is how rock solid stable the car seems, it is a very powerful rear wheel drive car that hardly ever needs any opposite lock. It clashes fairly dramatically with the idea that a GT2 RS must be a "Widowmaker". It looks like a complete pussycat.

By the way Porsche

It "looked" far more composed and less on the edge than the McLaren P1

[RobM77]

jamespink said:

Kawasicki said:

I've only watched a couple of minutes of the video so far, but what I find interesting is how rock solid stable the car seems, it is a very powerful rear wheel drive car that hardly ever needs any opposite lock. It clashes fairly dramatically with the idea that a GT2 RS must be a "Widowmaker". It looks like a complete pussycat.

By the way Porsche

It "looked" far more composed and less on the edge than the McLaren P1

Do bear in mind that much of this is driver skill. As you go faster, the chances of the car becoming a handful get greater and greater, and the best drivers are those who manage to walk the tightrope delicately and not over-drive the car. Ergo, the fastest laps will usually look the calmest.

[Kawasicki]

RobM77 said:

jamespink said:

Kawasicki said:

I've only watched a couple of minutes of the video so far, but what I find interesting is how rock solid stable the car seems, it is a very powerful rear wheel drive car that hardly ever needs any opposite lock. It clashes fairly dramatically with the idea that a GT2 RS must be a "Widowmaker". It looks like a complete pussycat.

By the way Porsche

It "looked" far more composed and less on the edge than the McLaren P1

Do bear in mind that much of this is driver skill. As you go faster, the chances of the car becoming a handful get greater and greater, and the best drivers are those who manage to walk the tightrope delicately and not over-drive the car. Ergo, the fastest laps will usually look the calmest.

I agree with everything you wrote...Still, I think it is important to mention that the same people who call/consider this car a "widow maker" are the same ones that would have problems driving pretty much anything quickly.

[RobM77]

Kawasicki said:

RobM77 said:

jamespink said:

Kawasicki said:

I've only watched a couple of minutes of the video so far, but what I find interesting is how rock solid stable the car seems, it is a very powerful rear wheel drive car that hardly ever needs any opposite lock. It clashes fairly dramatically with the idea that a GT2 RS must be a "Widowmaker". It looks like a complete pussycat.

By the way Porsche

It "looked" far more composed and less on the edge than the McLaren P1

Do bear in mind that much of this is driver skill. As you go faster, the chances of the car becoming a handful get greater and greater, and the best drivers are those who manage to walk the tightrope delicately and not over-drive the car. Ergo, the fastest laps will usually look the calmest.

I agree with everything you wrote...Still, I think it is important to mention that the same people who call/consider this car a "widow maker" are the same ones that would have problems driving pretty much anything quickly.

There's no doubt that some cars are harder to drive quickly than others though. I can't comment on the GT2 myself as I've never driven one. I've driven a variety of cars at the limit though and some are clearly much more challenging than others. The most challenging get this moniker, but yes, if something's a street legal mass produced car it's unlikely to deserve it.

[havoc]

Kawasicki said:

I agree with everything you wrote...Still, I think it is important to mention that the same people who call/consider this car a "widow maker" are the same ones that would have problems driving pretty much anything quickly.

Previous versions of the car had that monicker.

I wonder if this one was designed with the N'ring lap time firmly in mind and thus for high-speed on-track stability and not necessarily agility/'fun'...Porsche DO seem to have been firmly aiming their GT-models at lap-times and outright pace recently...

[hondansx]

I'd argue the Porsche Turbo of the '80s started the widow maker tale; people were making a lot of money and 911 then wasn't a particularly forgiving car to the uninitiated.

Technology has moved along way. The current 911 has much cleverer suspension, turbo technology and electronics. Not only are they over-tyred, but the tyres offer almost slick-like levels of grip and the aero is unbelievable for a roadcar. I believe it's a combination of everything, not a case of Porsche suddenly changing their ethos.

Nothing to do with the driver's ability; at the level these guys are at there is not going to be a big margin between them. It would be track knowledge over outright driving skill.