RE: GT-R Laps 'Ring In 7min 30secs

RE: GT-R Laps 'Ring In 7min 30secs

Thursday 1st May 2008

GT-R Laps 'Ring In 7min 29secs

Standard GT-R knocks eight seconds off previous best time


A GT-R, yesterday
A GT-R, yesterday
Nissan today announced that a GT-R has achieved a lap time of the Nurburgring in seven minutes and 29 seconds.

The time was recorded in April and the GT-R used was a base specification car and fitted with the standard Japanese market tyres.

Driven by GT-R chief test driver Tochio Suzuki, this latest lap time beats the previous fastest time for the GT-R by nine seconds.

The previous best lap time for GT-R of 7:38, also driven by Suzuki, was one of the fastest laps achieved by a production car despite conditions being slightly damp on two corners.

The new time puts the GT-R up with some of the fastest production cars such as the Porsche Carerra GT.

‘At last year’s testing, we were frustrated by the conditions at the Nürburgring, always believing that the GT-R could go under seven minutes 30 seconds,’ said Kazutoshi Mizuno, Chief Vehicle Engineer for GT-R.

‘Below seven minutes 30 seconds, the GT-R proves it is among the fastest mass-production cars in the world. We set out to build a multi-performance supercar accessible to anyone, anytime and anywhere – I believe the GT-R has delivered that promise.’ 

Author
Discussion

Don1

Original Poster:

15,948 posts

208 months

Thursday 1st May 2008
quotequote all
I accept it's fast, but is it really straight out of the box? There are always rumours about 'special' bits added to the cars for these attempts...

Andrew[MG]

3,323 posts

198 months

Thursday 1st May 2008
quotequote all
Is there a list of top Nurburgring times?

Godzilla

2,033 posts

249 months

Thursday 1st May 2008
quotequote all
That is simply unbelievable.

I want an independent mag to take a production example onto a reputable rolling road.

There are conflicting reports, some saying it is 480hp at the flywheel, as advertised, but some say more like 480hp at the hubs, which would be more like 550hp at the flywheel.

Judging by all its incredible performance figures (which are remarkably consistent across the world and in the hands of many different magazines), I am certain the power figure must be closer to the latter.

Which begs the question why is Nissan being shy about quoted power?

480hp is already so far above the previous "gentlemen's agreement" level of 280hp, would another 70hp really offend the Japanese government so much more?

Mine arrives next year and I keep telling myself it's not going to be my track car, but with capabilities like this, it is going to be impossible to resist taking the 1740kg barge out on track for some Elise and Caterham baiting! biggrin

dougc

8,240 posts

265 months

Thursday 1st May 2008
quotequote all
Sorry but I'm beginning to get a bit suspicious of all this 'we can lap the 'ring faster than you' stuff.

Back in 2003 Phil Bennet ran a Radical SR3 Turbo around the 'ring in 7m 12s. This is essentially a racing car with headlights that packs around 300bhp and weighs 500kg. Are you seriously telling me that a 'GT' with all its leather seats and air conditioning and with a power to weight of about 1/3rd that of the Radical is only 1 second a mile slower?

The EVO test of the GT-R saw it going faster than pretty much everything in its class and snapping at the heels of the Enzo but it was blown into the weeds by the trackday specials which most closly resemble Bennet's Radical by something like 4 seconds on a 1m15lap!

Mr Whippy

29,033 posts

241 months

Thursday 1st May 2008
quotequote all
Godzilla said:
Which begs the question why is Nissan being shy about quoted power?
Makes the rest of the package appear more special than it is.

If they said 580bhp for example, then the stunning times would be more easily attributed to the high power figure.
As it stands people are speculating how they get the performance from the power, and that makes the drivetrain and traction, gearbox etc, all appear more 'special' than they possibly are.

If Porsche quoted wheel figures for the current 911 Turbo for example, people would be blown away by how fast it was, and attribute it to some amazing new Porsche engineering or gearbox or something.

Dave

bencollins

3,503 posts

205 months

Thursday 1st May 2008
quotequote all
dougc said:
Sorry but I'm beginning to get a bit suspicious of all this 'we can lap the 'ring faster than you' stuff.

Back in 2003 Phil Bennet ran a Radical SR3 Turbo around the 'ring in 7m 12s. This is essentially a racing car with headlights that packs around 300bhp and weighs 500kg. Are you seriously telling me that a 'GT' with all its leather seats and air conditioning and with a power to weight of about 1/3rd that of the Radical is only 1 second a mile slower?

The EVO test of the GT-R saw it going faster than pretty much everything in its class and snapping at the heels of the Enzo but it was blown into the weeds by the trackday specials which most closly resemble Bennet's Radical by something like 4 seconds on a 1m15lap!
6*4secs= 24s
1m15lap *6 = 7mins 30 sec
7mins 30 sec - 24s = 7mins 6 sec
Ring is a fast circuit suiting heavy cars.

_dobbo_

14,378 posts

248 months

Thursday 1st May 2008
quotequote all
dougc said:
Sorry but I'm beginning to get a bit suspicious of all this 'we can lap the 'ring faster than you' stuff.

Back in 2003 Phil Bennet ran a Radical SR3 Turbo around the 'ring in 7m 12s. This is essentially a racing car with headlights that packs around 300bhp and weighs 500kg. Are you seriously telling me that a 'GT' with all its leather seats and air conditioning and with a power to weight of about 1/3rd that of the Radical is only 1 second a mile slower?

The EVO test of the GT-R saw it going faster than pretty much everything in its class and snapping at the heels of the Enzo but it was blown into the weeds by the trackday specials which most closly resemble Bennet's Radical by something like 4 seconds on a 1m15lap!
The west course at Bedford (I think that's where evo test) is a totally different beast to the Nurburgring. The GTR's higher top speed will contribute enormously to it's lap time, the radical makes all it's time in the corners - however there are some very long straights at the 'ring.


dougc

8,240 posts

265 months

Thursday 1st May 2008
quotequote all
_dobbo_ said:
dougc said:
Sorry but I'm beginning to get a bit suspicious of all this 'we can lap the 'ring faster than you' stuff.

Back in 2003 Phil Bennet ran a Radical SR3 Turbo around the 'ring in 7m 12s. This is essentially a racing car with headlights that packs around 300bhp and weighs 500kg. Are you seriously telling me that a 'GT' with all its leather seats and air conditioning and with a power to weight of about 1/3rd that of the Radical is only 1 second a mile slower?

The EVO test of the GT-R saw it going faster than pretty much everything in its class and snapping at the heels of the Enzo but it was blown into the weeds by the trackday specials which most closly resemble Bennet's Radical by something like 4 seconds on a 1m15lap!
The west course at Bedford (I think that's where evo test) is a totally different beast to the Nurburgring. The GTR's higher top speed will contribute enormously to it's lap time, the radical makes all it's time in the corners - however there are some very long straights at the 'ring.
OK, poor example but its still a bit fishy isn't it? If you had no knowledge of either car and someone gave you the figures and said 'which car is likely to win around a racing circuit?' what would you say?

Every time a new car comes along, it the fastest around the 'ring. Its like the GCSE results which keep getting better and better whilst the government tells everyone they're not getting easier. I'm not doubting that the GT-R is a fantastic car and I will be doing my best to have a go in one as soon as possible but I think the 'ring competition is getting a bit silly now and have my suspicions that manufacturers perhaps aren't playing with a totally straight bat.

williamssam

733 posts

220 months

Thursday 1st May 2008
quotequote all
I can't help wondering, if Nissan built a 1300kg car with 600bhp+ with all the GTRs technology, what time i'd do round the ring. 7.29 for a car with the GTR's power to weight ratio is incredible.

AlistairOz

34 posts

208 months

Thursday 1st May 2008
quotequote all
Hmm, I can't help but think back to the R34 fiasco where Nissan claimed an under 8 minute lap with a "stock" GTR (which should have 276 bhp). When Topgear tried to repeat their feat with a V-Spec version with 350 bhp it was about 30 seconds adrift and to make matters worse the E36 M3 Evo Coupe that they had brought along was quicker with a mere 321 bhp.

Still, this new GTR does seem to be an absolute monster.

Kawasicki

13,083 posts

235 months

Thursday 1st May 2008
quotequote all
I'm suspicious of the claimed maintained 1.8g laterall acceleration.

The ring is a bit of a power circuit though

shane

jon-

16,509 posts

216 months

Thursday 1st May 2008
quotequote all
I like how they make a big point of quoting "stock tyres" when they're running Bridgestone RE070r. Still a stunning time.

Edited to add I was wrong, they're actually either a Dunlop or Bridgestone tyre. More information here:

Nissan GT-R Tyres

Edited by jon- on Thursday 1st May 17:32

williamssam

733 posts

220 months

Thursday 1st May 2008
quotequote all
According to the Autocar report, the car was standard apart from "revised chassis settings"

TOENHEEL

4,501 posts

227 months

Thursday 1st May 2008
quotequote all
8 seconds!! Something fishy here i think, they should be careful as people will loose all interest if it turns out to be fiddled with..

timmather

14 posts

192 months

Thursday 1st May 2008
quotequote all
Surely a radical isn't really ideal for the Ring, its a bumpy old place and as people have said very high speed. I'd of thought the compliance of the GT-R would give it an edge at the Ring that it wouldn't have at somewhere like Donnington.

Biccaroo

393 posts

216 months

Thursday 1st May 2008
quotequote all
I have never, ever, wanted a car as much as I want the GT-R. It is simply outstanding. Don't get me wrong, there are lots of fantastic cars out there, but this machine does things which no one would've thought possible for a car that'll be worth around £60k in the UK. What an achievement. Both on track and off.

willdew

2,138 posts

264 months

Thursday 1st May 2008
quotequote all
dougc said:
Its like the GCSE results which keep getting better and better whilst the government tells everyone they're not getting easier.
No it's not, as no one's suggesting driving the 'ring is getting any easier over time.

Kieran XJR

5,983 posts

213 months

Thursday 1st May 2008
quotequote all
They filmed the 7.38 lap so I guess that's proof to some extent.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=uGe_fyhQazg

I imagine they probably filmed the 7.29 lap too. I think the question is whether the car is "stock" and puts out the quoted levels of power, or in fact significantly more.

RobCrezz

7,892 posts

208 months

Thursday 1st May 2008
quotequote all
AlistairOz said:
Hmm, I can't help but think back to the R34 fiasco where Nissan claimed an under 8 minute lap with a "stock" GTR (which should have 276 bhp). When Topgear tried to repeat their feat with a V-Spec version with 350 bhp it was about 30 seconds adrift and to make matters worse the E36 M3 Evo Coupe that they had brought along was quicker with a mere 321 bhp.

Still, this new GTR does seem to be an absolute monster.
When was this? I dont remember this ever happening. I thought I had seen every top gear.

fido

16,797 posts

255 months

Thursday 1st May 2008
quotequote all
dougc said:
OK, poor example but its still a bit fishy isn't it? If you had no knowledge of either car and someone gave you the figures and said 'which car is likely to win around a racing circuit?' what would you say?
I'd go for the one with 4WD and able to perform consistent gearchanges in milliseconds.
As said before the weight issue would be less noticeable on high-speed circuits, and the balanced weight distribution from the transaxle design would make up for it on the low-speed corners. There's a reason why it's so heavy (compared to a 350Z).