Is a GT3 the only road car truly happy on track?

[Hafod]

Today I enjoyed lapping 2 of the last “supercars” on my bucket list. R8 and GTR. Both had there charms but would both need lots of work to make them fit for the track. Can anyone propose a quick everyday ROAD car that seems as content and entertaining as 997.2 or 991 GT3 on circuit?

[rallye101]

Yeah, a Litchfield gr yaris...

[Hafod]

Great shout 👍

[Mouse Rat]

Some reviewers indicate the 911 gt3 doesn't have the best road manners.

anyway I would imagine a cayman gt4, lotus evora or well setup TVR speed6 would makr a good balance.

[kambites]

Some Lotuses do OK on track without modifications. So do some of the more stripped out hot hatches.

[Julian Thompson]

It has been done plenty of times through the years - the 964 RS used to get hammered around the tracks in pretty standard trim, Lotus got it right with the Elise and then even more with the Exige. Ferrari did the CS and the Scud and even some of the smaller cars like the Renaults are good. Caterhams. Noble did a smashing job in the 00’s with their line up too.

Thing is there are always alternative perspectives. You could think the GT3 is the perfect compromise and someone else could think how badly compromised it is, and choose to buy a Radical SR8 (etc) for the track and a 911 Carrera (or whatever) for the road for the same price.

[Hafod]

Some great suggestions coming back. I’m 6’4” so struggle is Elise’s for helmet room. If Gt4 had 2” longer cabin I’d own one already. Type R struggle with the looks. RenaultSport have some belters, I just fear they wouldn’t survive very long. So far I like the lurch field GR suggestion, I’d go for non track pack and put the saving towards Ap brakes and some aftermarket wheels and some pole positions.

[JAMSXR]

Lapping really means nothing unless you’re racing. I lapped an R8 in my C63 estate recently. When it comes to car track days I’m an amateur, but the guy in the R8 was even a level down to me. Drive what you enjoy, don’t chase lap times - that’s my theory anyway.

I’m pretty sure I was smiling just as much as the guys in the 3 GRs as well. They couldn’t even real in my family wagon through the twisties

I was overtaken by two Renaults thought….

Edited by JAMSXR on Friday 25th March 22:13

[JAMSXR]

Lapping really means nothing unless you’re racing. I lapped an R8 in my C63 estate recently. When it comes to car track days I’m an amateur, but the guy in the R8 was even a level down to me. Drive what you enjoy, don’t chase lap times - that’s my theory anyway.

I’m pretty sure I was smiling just as much as the guys in the 3 GRs as well. They couldn’t even real in my family wagon through the twisties

I was overtaken by two Renaults thought….

Edited by JAMSXR on Saturday 26th March 03:45

[LordHaveMurci]

Hafod said:

Some great suggestions coming back. I’m 6’4” so struggle is Elise’s for helmet room. If Gt4 had 2” longer cabin I’d own one already. Type R struggle with the looks. RenaultSport have some belters, I just fear they wouldn’t survive very long. So far I like the lurch field GR suggestion, I’d go for non track pack and put the saving towards Ap brakes and some aftermarket wheels and some pole positions.

There’s a reason Renaults are so popular on track & it’s not because they’re fragile!

[Hafod]

There’s a perverse thrill to humbling exotica in a wagon. I’ve got a time attack spec RS4 avant myself and remember fondly the Volvo BTCC days.

[Baldchap]

I have tracked my Elise and GRY and would happily track my Evora too.

[Julian Thompson]

Hafod said:

Some great suggestions coming back. I’m 6’4” so struggle is Elise’s for helmet room. If Gt4 had 2” longer cabin I’d own one already. Type R struggle with the looks. RenaultSport have some belters, I just fear they wouldn’t survive very long. So far I like the lurch field GR suggestion, I’d go for non track pack and put the saving towards Ap brakes and some aftermarket wheels and some pole positions.

If you are including modifying then the question is completely different.

You can take many, many, many cars of all ages, bang some proper shock absorbers, springs, bushings and top mounts on them, add brakes and a pair of decent seats and end up with literally a completely different car.

I have an old 986s fully rigged up with trick ohlins suspension and RSS/elephant racing arms and stuff, and it is extremely, extremely good to drive on circuit. Like ridiculously impressive for what it is.

[Hafod]

That 986 sounds great. I suppose my problem with mortifying is I never know when to stop. You chase faster and faster then next thing you know it’s no longer an enjoyable daily driver.

[Julian Thompson]

You’re right. That compromise is difficult to get…

So I guess back to your original question really.

[Hafod]

Just twigged that On the GR you need track pack which comes with Brembos to get the Torsten diff. Just requested a test drive with my local Toyota dealer. The wife will be furious it’s any good and I arrive home in car 8 foot shorter, meaning her car has to do all our our family days out and airport runs. Hey Ho, when are they ever happy at our car choices.

[Glenn63]

I’m in the lower end hot hatch bracket with an m140, Iv put Bilsteins on it couple other suspensions bits and proper brake pads, lines fluid and it does rather well on track for a porky full interior road car. Took a beating all day around Anglesey last month only passed by a monster gtr and e36 race car, was all over a gt4 who refused to move over, and passed a few proper track spec stripped e46 m3s several times.
Suspension and brakes and geometry are the main issues with a standard road car.

[wong]

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?

[ZX10R NIN]

Hafod said:

Today I enjoyed lapping 2 of the last “supercars” on my bucket list. R8 and GTR. Both had there charms but would both need lots of work to make them fit for the track. Can anyone propose a quick everyday ROAD car that seems as content and entertaining as 997.2 or 991 GT3 on circuit?

Corvette C6 Z06 not only will it be as entertaining & quick around as a GT3 around a track, as well as being an absolute event on the road too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108015...

Or if you want to go UK then the Noble M12 is a very good option:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/403551857220?hash=item5...

[cayman-black]

ZX10R NIN said:

Corvette C6 Z06 not only will it be as entertaining & quick around as a GT3 around a track, as well as being an absolute event on the road too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108015...

Or if you want to go UK then the Noble M12 is a very good option:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/403551857220?hash=item5...

A manual Z06 , looks great value,