[Pferdestärke]

Well I think we all in the end of all the arguements agree, that Top Speed figures, 0 to 60 figures, BHP figures (etc) are all meaningless when it comes to talking performance of an all round Fast Car. What really matters is how fast a car can lap a test track. And TopGear has been doing exactly that (since a couple of years). They have their own test track and a Kick A$$ race-driver, whos called the STIG.. Now this track is set-up in such a way that it not only tests the skills of the driver, but tests every aspect of the cars that go round it.

I was just wondering, if we can have a thread that lists the cars that they've tested and have managed to go round the track fast.

I can recall only a few, so please post in, the ones that I've missed.. (I'll try to keep it updated).

Some info on the TopGear Test Track:
This TopGear test track is just under 2 miles of fast straights and tricky corners designed by the test drivers at lotus. There are corners specially designed to load up the outside end of the tyres, corners that provoke understeer even in a perfectly well balanced cars. Corners that are Flat out, which oversteers a rear wheeled drive car, corners that test brake / balance, etc, etc.. Basically tests the cars to its limits. And Stig (the insane TopGear Test Driver) manages to push that car beyond the limits and still manages to post consistant laptimes with every car.

Dry Track Best Lap:

Porsche Carrera GT * * * * * * - 1:19.8
Mercedes McLaren SLR * * * *- 1:20.9
Ford GT * * * * * * * * * * * * * *- 1:21.9
Porsche GT3-RS * * * * * * * * - 1:22.3
Ferrari Modena 360CS * * * * *- 1:22.3
Lamborghini Murcielago * * * *- 1:23.7 (second run, in dry)
Pagani Zonda * * * * * * * * * * - 1:23.8
Koenigsegg * * * * * * * * * * * *- 1:23.9
Noble 3.0 * * * * * * * * * * * * *- 1:25.0
Lamborghini Gallardo * * * * * *- 1:25.8
Corvette C6 * * * * * * * * * * * - 1:26.0 *
Mitsubishi Evo8 MR FQ 320 * *- 1:26.0
TVR 350C * * * * * * * * * * * * *- 1:27.0
Spyker C8 * * * * * * * * * * * * - 1:27.3 *
MG SV * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *- 1:28.6
Mistuishi EVO8 (301hp FQ) * - 1:28.9
Alpina Z8 * * * * * * * * * * * * * - 1:29.0
Subaru Impreza STi WR1 * * * - 1:29.4
Subaru Impreza STI * * * * * * - 1:30.1
Aston Martin DB7 GT * * * * * *- 1:30.9
Audi S4 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *- 1:30.9
Vauxhaul VX220 Turbo * * * * *- 1:31.3
BMW M3 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - 1:31.8
Mazda RX-8 * * * * * * * * * * * * *- 1:31.8
Nissan 350Z * * * * * * * * * * * * - 1:31.8
Ford Focus RS * * * * * * * * * * * - 1:32.2
Espirit V8 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - 1:32.5
Audi TT V6 * * * * * * * * * * * * * - 1:32.7
Volkswagen Golf R32 * * * * * * *- 1:33.3


Cars that got the Typical British Weather :

Wet Track Best Lap:
Lotus Exige * * * * * * * * * * * - 1:26.4
Porsche GT3 * * * * * * * * * * *- 1:27.2
BMW M3 CSL * * * * * * * * * * - 1:28.0
Lamborghini Murcielago * * * *- 1:29.0 (w)
Porsche 911 Turbo (4wd) * * - 1:31.0 (w)
Honda NSX Type-R * * * * * * - 1:33.2 (w)
Noble (2.5L) * * * * * * * * * * *- 1:33.1 (w)
Mercedes SL55 AMG * * * * * - 1:33.2 (w)
Lts Elise 111S * * * * * * * * * *- 1:35.6 (w)
Ferrari 575M * * * * * * * * * * *- 1:35.7 (w)
Renault Clio v6 * * * * * * * * * - 1:36.2 (w)
Aston Martin Vanquish * * * * - 1:36.2 (w)
Bentley Arnage T * * * * * * * *- 1:40 * (w)

Trackday Cars :
Radical SR3 * * * * * * * * * * * - 1:19.3
Westfield XTR * * * * * * * * * *- 1:22.6


Now these have what have come to my mind at the moment, as I agree with the Power Lap Time Theory, I want to know the Laptimes of all interesting (competitive) Cars they've tested. Your Contribution will be appreciated.. Thank you

------------------------------------------------------------

(w) - Really Wet
(w) - Drenched and Pouring!
* - Last Edited

[Tom]

hey good stuff man...culd u provide some more details abt the track? im not familiar with this stuff

thanks,
Tom

p.s awsome signature dude.....cant pronounce ur name though

[Pferdestärke]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]p.s awsome signature dude..

Thanks

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]cant pronounce ur name though

You can call me PS (1.0 BHP = 1.07 PS)

Track Details have been added on the first post!

[ajmat]

am surprised Mercedes gave them an SLR considering that they stuffed an SL55 during a test

[GTO]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]am surprised Mercedes gave them an SLR

And read very recently that their bashing caused the SLR's brakes to catch fire!

GTO

[Pferdestärke]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]"am surprised Mercedes gave them an SLR"
"And read very recently that their bashing caused the SLR's brakes to catch fire!"

Your 'Them' and 'Their' should be more specific. Its Clarkson whos Thrashed em' both (during this test). Yes both, McMerc and CarreraGT and after doing so, he proudly came out and said. These are the Fastest Cars he's ever driven! . He's Tagged them "The Worlds Fastest Cars"!
But frankly, I dont see no reason to counter that, seeing these cars did it round the track in 3-4 seconds quicker than the earlier track record by supercars (Zonda and Murcielago).

[S350L-E240]

Wasn't the SL55 his own car he traded for a ferrari??

[GTO]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Wasn't the SL55 his own car he traded for a ferrari??

Rather the other way around. He traded his Ferrari F355 for an SL55 AMG...

GTO

[GrimReaper]

I was rathar surprised in the end Clarkson actually chose the SLR as his choice( comparing the CGT v SLR). His reason was that the CGT was better in almost every way around a track, but the SLR is the same way everytime you took it out ( probably meaning more practical and fast even when driving it around town)

[S350L-E240]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (GTO @ May 19 2004,00:39)]

Rather the other way around. He traded his Ferrari F355 for an SL55 AMG...

GTO

Sorry my usual typo errors!

The SL55 must be some car... U have no idea how much i blushed when he said that

[Pferdestärke]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]I was rathar surprised in the end Clarkson actually chose the SLR as his choice( comparing the CGT v SLR). His reason was that the CGT was better in almost every way around a track, but the SLR is the same way everytime you took it out ( probably meaning more practical and fast even when driving it around town)

The Mercedes is a masculine, hairy-chested thing. I fancy the Porsche more.. - Jeremy Clarkson.
After saying this, he said - I'll buy the SLR!

(sorry, this isnt a flame war or anything, but i dont think Tiff would swing this way.)

[koolsun]

renault clio v6 1m.36s.2 (wet)tht was one nice episode.
aston martin vanquish 1m.36.s.2 (wet)

[Pferdestärke]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]renault clio v6 1m.36s.2 (wet)tht was one nice episode.
aston martin vanquish 1m.36.s.2 (wet)

Yea and so was Ferrari 575M Somewhere around 1:35 - 1:36 (wet).
Thats why as insisting on Wet laps to be under 1:30 .
But to be fair to 575 & Vanquish, it was Soaking out there. Could see the tyres dipped in the water on the track. Plus it was raining hard.
And you know initially the TopGear Guys decided that as they cant have dry track all the time, they thought it'd be only fair if they can have track wet all the time, so for the first 50-60 tests, they used to have huge tankers of water brought down to the track and spray it on the circuit.. 'which in the end turned out pretty lame..'
GOD I Love Jeremy Clarkson!

[koolsun]

same here i love watchin jeremy in action and also the clio was driven in absolute drenched conditions still pouring i guess while the lap was on

[koolsun]

hey even stigy is fun to watch and his choice of music is really weird man