997 Cup v. 996 Cup

[flemke]

DanH and other interested parties,

About ten days ago I said that I would check out the differences between the above that explain the superiority of the new car.
The main reasons, I am told by a guy who knows, are the sequential gearbox (which is a different, quicker box, not just a different form of effecting gear-changing), the newer car's modest increase in downforce front and rear, and improved front suspension geometry.
There's not much between the engines.
The ceramics discs benefit performance by reducing unsprung rotating mass, but their increased friction causes them to use pads at a higher rate than iron discs will do. They are, after all, intended to be used in the sprint races of Supercup. The two 997 Cups using them in VLN have had problems with a set of pads lasting four hours, or about 600 kms. With PCCB discs, a set of pads is rated for 500 kms.
If you use ABS, which people prefer at the Ring, and your driving style tends to rely on it, pad life will be even shorter.
In the previous race Sabine used ceramics but, because of the pad life problem, in Saturday's race she was on iron discs.
She and Klaus are also experimenting with tyres and on Saturday they ran on Yokohamas.

Hope that helps. If any further questions I'll try to get them answered.

[DanH]

Thanks for enquiring. I wonder what the suspension mods are up front - thats where the RSR & RS had the most changes on the 996. Does this mean the Cups have a different front setup to the road going models? I don't believe they did on the 996?

Interesting point about pad life and ABS. I'd heard people suggestion this might be part of the wear problems on ceramic disks. It will be interesting to see how long the disks last - its reported that when the disks start to wear and get course they tear through pads at a massively accelerated rate. I'm sure I'll find out for myself fairly soon

[_VTEC_]

Am I correct in saying that the 997 has an LSD whereas the 996 hasn't?

(Sorry if this seems ignorant, I'd usually search the web for things like this but laziness rules vice over me at the moment)

I've seen both in action (although in completely different situations) and the 997 looks the better of the two.

[DanH]

No Rob, you are incorrect

They may have changed the amount of lock up in the LSD though.

edit : what mistake Matt, er Rob?

>> Edited by DanH on Monday 7th November 00:07

[_VTEC_]

It appears you got something incorrect at well Dan.

Check my profile.

Ah yes, I can't believe I forgot that the 996 cup possesses a diff.

[DanH]

_VTEC_ said:

It appears you got something incorrect at well Dan. Check my profile. Ah yes, I can't believe I forgot that the 996 cup possesses a diff.

Oops - theres a vtec_matt on the Elise forum. Embarrasing though as I believe we've met

[_VTEC_]

We have indeed at the Gumball opening.

Hope the RS is giving you trouble free smiles mate.