Wednesday 25th July 2012

Chris Harris video: GT2 RS vs Ducati Panigale

Drag strip, fast bike and fast car ... it's a simple formula, right?

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A colleague of mine recently defined online video success in simple but crude terms. For maximum views, the recipe is as follows: convene a drag race between a Bugatti Veyron and a Pagani Huayra, during which Pippa Middleton does things to Pierre Henri Raphanel. I cannot specify what those things are here. But looking at the number of people who watch drag races, Miss Middleton's cameo might not necessarily be the main attraction.

So where is Pippa Middleton then?

Racing side-by-side racing is so popular, we had to do something eventually. On reflection, I chose the hard option: car vs bike.

Personally, I think drag races are slightly less interesting than boiled rice. So I needed to do something that would stop me falling asleep. Ducati has recently launched this remarkable new bike called an 1199 Panigale, and I quite fancied watching a bloke who could ride it properly: step forward Ben Cope from www.VisorDown.com.

How to beat a fast bike proved a difficult question to answer. Especially given that I wanted to beat one with a modicum of dignity - and this meant pitching-up without a box of launch computers and dual-clutch gearboxes. What is the fastest car off the line to be fitted with a manual gearbox? I'd say it was the Noble M600 - but we've already done a video on one of those and the GT2 RS runs it a very close second, so we used the Porsche.

PH: all about towing fast cars behind VWs!

The venue was Santa Pod, with its brooding concrete walls and signature heat-haze.

The Panigale is one of the most attractive mechanical objects on sale. I couldn't use a tenth of its ability, but I would love to have one parked next to my desk: given the price of installation art, I'd say £23,495 for this Tricolore is excellent value. After all, you can't do wheelies on a formaldehyde-soaked-shark, can you?

I suppose I can't say any more at this point. You just need to see what happened.

Enjoy the vid.

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[y2blade]

Great to see Ben on here

[s m]

GT2RS

[Sexual Chocolate]

Is that the rs that's at mayfair opc?

[ellisd82]

My 600 would be better off the line because of the lack of power until properly open. 1000 and 600 have not much difference in 0-60, but 0-100 is a different matter.
It seems the tarmac at santapod is a little greasy.
Great Video by the way!

[anonymous-user]

Wow to both

[3doorPete]

Superb - Thanks guys.

[Bencolem]

I've been off bikes for nearly 6 years now but bloody hell, that Ducati is almost uncontrollably fast. I didn't realise how much the performance had come on again. Wow.

[E30M3SE]

Good vid, look forward to instalments 2 and 3.

[OlberJ]

Ken Block tribute and everything. Oh deary me.

Nice video. Goes true with most people trying to launch new cars to them on a 1/4mile. Bit of practice from each of you and those times would tumble.

"The GT2RS is going to be around for a while".....new purchase Monkey boy?

[Mastodon2]

I love that GT2 RS, one of my favourite Porsches - it's just absolutely bonkers!

[TomTVR500]

Brilliant video and both awesome bits of kit, although I am a car man myself.
For this particular test I think a Turbo S would have been a much better bet but i do love the GT2 RS.

[jjones]

ditto Ben comments

[infernal]

more importantly, where is this pippa middleton video?

[bigandclever]

TomTVR500 said:

For this particular test I think a Turbo S would have been a much better bet

Apart from the "pitching-up without a box of launch computers and dual-clutch gearboxes" bit?

[Gilhooligan]

That ducati sounds brilliant, always had a thing for v twins. The Porsche on the other hand sounds like many other turbo cars out there (think Nissan gtr), wooshy and muted.

[nickfrog]

bigandclever said:

TomTVR500 said:

For this particular test I think a Turbo S would have been a much better bet

Apart from the "pitching-up without a box of launch computers and dual-clutch gearboxes" bit?

Don't they do a manual and can't you turn stuff off on a Turbo S ? But presumably there's still electronics managing torque/traction between front and rear axles I guess.

[bigandclever]

nickfrog said:

bigandclever said:

TomTVR500 said:

For this particular test I think a Turbo S would have been a much better bet

Apart from the "pitching-up without a box of launch computers and dual-clutch gearboxes" bit?

Don't they do a manual and can't you turn stuff off on a Turbo S ? But presumably there's still electronics managing torque/traction between front and rear axles I guess.

I'm 99% sure it's PDK only for the 997 Turbo S.

[bakerstreet]

I reallt liked the 999 and 1099, but I just dont like the looks of the Panigale from the rear. That exhaust sticking out over the rear hugger looks terrible

However Rossi will probably be riding in in WSB in 2014

[CBR JGWRR]

The real question is, which is quicker round the Snaefell course?

:runs:

[andyroo]

great vid, superb production. keep em coming!