Schumacher to drive 2011 Merc F1 car at the Ring at N24

[CampDavid]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/107044

Looks awesome. He best not drop under 6 minutes 11 seconds though...

[Chrisgr31]

Interestying as I read today somewhere that Hamilton would love to drive a F1 car there. Mercedes must have decided he's too valuable!

[Vocal Minority]

Or the predominantly German audience will give more of a toss about Michael?

(How is Hamilton regarded in Germany do we know? - I have no idea!)

[hairykrishna]

That does sound good. "Posting a lap" implies going for a time too...

[RSoovy4]

Balls out

[CampDavid]

If he "goes for a time" he'll beat Bellof's '86 record which would be a bit wrong. Bellof set the time with a brilliant lap, flat out in a competition car. Schumacher will effectively potter about in a museum piece and take the time with ease. Seems a shame.

[hairykrishna]

"Potter about" and a sub 6 minutes 11 time are two phrases that don't seem to go together. It'd have to be a seriously committed lap to take the record even in a new-ish F1 car.

[mchammer89]

Doubt it'll be under 8 minutes.

[RSoovy4]

CampDavid said:

If he "goes for a time" he'll beat Bellof's '86 record which would be a bit wrong. Bellof set the time with a brilliant lap, flat out in a competition car. Schumacher will effectively potter about in a museum piece and take the time with ease. Seems a shame.

Well perhaps, but it would be amazing if someone could lap in 5'59.....

He's going to need big stones.

[mchammer89]

And a different car.

[thegreenhell]

Bellof's lap was set on just the Nordschleife, whereas I'm sure MS will be using at least some of the GP circuit as well, most likely the full 24h layout, so any direct comparison between the two will be both difficult and meaningless. Also, unless he does a laptime as a race entrant then it won't be classified as a lap record, even if it is the fastest time ever.

Whatever, I'm sure it will be spectacular to see and hear a modern F1 car on the legendary Nordschleife, just as it was a few years ago when BMW ran there with Nick Heidfeld after a VLN race.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6Rvt2obSxQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09wczqepQjM

[steviejasp]

I expect the pit stop for tyres half way round will slow him down some what.

[hairykrishna]

mchammer89 said:

Doubt it'll be under 8 minutes.

Heidfeld did 8 minutes 30 something in an F1 car on a slowed down photography lap.

[FourWheelDrift]

I doubt Schumacher will be limited to just the tourist circuit, I'm sure he'll also go around the F1 track for the grandstand shots. Bellof's lap was 20,832 m. The 24hrs that races on a combination of tourist and GP track is 25,359 m long.

Heidfeld drove round in a BMW a few years ago, he didn't go flat all the way probably too much bottoming out in places and safety issues.

[CampDavid]

hairykrishna said:

"Potter about" and a sub 6 minutes 11 time are two phrases that don't seem to go together. It'd have to be a seriously committed lap to take the record even in a new-ish F1 car.

It really wouldn't. A modern F1 is much, much quicker than the old Porsche that SB drove

[mchammer89]

hairykrishna said:

Heidfeld did 8 minutes 30 something in an F1 car on a slowed down photography lap.

Can't see it being anything other than a publicity stunt. I'd love to see him go for it and would probably be a fair bit less than 7 minutes if he did, but I can't see it being anything other than a demonstration run.

[Munter]

mchammer89 said:

Can't see it being anything other than a publicity stunt. I'd love to see him go for it and would probably be a fair bit less than 7 minutes if he did, but I can't see it being anything other than a demonstration run.

Autosport said:

The demonstration run will take place as part of the build-up to this year's Nurburgring 24 Hours.