M400 on Top Gear

[Alan_Leamy]

Has Stig driven the M400 and if so what time did he post on the board?

[joust]

Time here

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=26&h=&t=192402

1:22.1 puts it "7th" between the Merc SLR and Ford GT. The 1.25 time is a "normal" 3R, and spanks the Porsche GT3 RS by a whole second

J

[V6GTO]

And he cocked up the last bend!

Martin.

[joust]

From memory what was shown wasn't the fastest lap, but I may be wrong. Micknall did tell me the full story but the old brain cells aren't what they used to be

J

[TonyToniTone]

joust said:

The 1.25 time is a "normal" 3R, and spanks the Porsche GT3 RS by a whole second J

Noble M400 - 1.22.1
Porsche GT3 RS - 1.22.3
Noble M12 - 1.25.0

[micknall]

TG tend to overlay some of the more dramatic moments with film from the actual timed laps when you see it on TV. On the day that the M400 was filmed, Stig was driving a number of cars for the comparo feature and time was tight, due to it being a short day for light. He only had (I think) four or five laps to set a time and his fastest attempt ended in a fluffed gearchange which lost him time on the penultimate bend. He admitted to me afterwards that he could have knocked another second off the time, but as it was he settled for 1:22.1. On a normal timed session, Stig will continue setting times until he feels that the car can do no better - and that may mean a dozen-plus laps.

To be frank, I doubt if the M400 will get another crack at the whip. Like all motoring magazines, whether they be printed or on air, new product is king, and the M400 is now 18 months' old.

Simon Hucknall
Press Officer
Noble Automotive Ltd.

[loonie]

TG is moving it's test track to Oxford I hear. The 'fastest times' board will be re-started.

[robp]

micknall said:

new product is king, and the M400 is now 18 months' old.

Fired.
New PR person quotes:
'M400 is King, New Products are found wanting'

[joust]

TonyToniTone said:

Noble M400 - 1.22.1 Porsche GT3 RS - 1.22.3 Noble M12 - 1.25.0

opps - sorry - must not have had my glasses on when I read it - I could have sworn it said 1:23.3

J

[DanH]

joust said:

TonyToniTone said: Noble M400 - 1.22.1 Porsche GT3 RS - 1.22.3 Noble M12 - 1.25.0 opps - sorry - must not have had my glasses on when I read it - I could have sworn it said 1:23.3 J

lol, there goes your jab at me

Top gear times are just a bit of fun anyway. The new stig seems quicker than the old one, and just whats happened to star in a reasonably priced car? Why is everyone so much quicker now?

[Mr Noble]

I thought that about the star car. It seems a lot stiffer through the bends and I saw an inside rear come off the tarmac the other week, that surely wouldn't happen in a standerd car. It could be something to do with the wheel now falling off twice!! Maybe they improved its setup.


Also, I thought the stig was actually a different person nearly everytime. I think they have 5 or 6 drivers and get one in thats available for each test. The reason for the stig is that then everyone thinks its the same person.

Greg

[maharg]

Incleasing Noble owners are coming to us to try times out for themselves...

www.plansmotorsport.com

[DanH]

maharg said:

Incleasing Noble owners are coming to us to try times out for themselves... www.plansmotorsport.com

lol Graham, not the most subtle anagram

[micknall]

Greg,

Stig is Stig - TG don't do replicas. I used to deal with Perry McCarthy when I started with Noble, but since then his replacement has remained the same on every visit.

Simon

[Mr Noble]

Then I stand corrected Simon, and duely appologise.

Who is he..................?

GN

[obes]

It's Ash isn't it !

[worty]

Tuff Noodle is what I was told. The reason they call him the Stig is that it wouldn't be good for his own tv prog if he was on TG as well

[m12_nathan]

It is Ben Collins, though apparently sometimes car owners prefer to provide their own driver (Renault F1 car for example).

[worty]

obes said:

It's Ash isn't it !

No Ash is too tall

>> Edited by worty on Thursday 24th November 12:09

[robp]

worty said:

Tuff Noodle is what I was told.

Nah.. cars are going far too straight for it to be Tuff.