MotorTrend does Laguna Seca

[Bodhii]

Laguna Lap

The Fastest Production Car Lap Times at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

http://www.motortrend.com/features/l...lap/index.html

Motor Trend

No caveats here. The lap times are supported by hard data and represent showroom stock cars -- no cheater tires or modifications allowed. Cars with adjustable suspension can be set-up for track conditions, as a customer would.

Lap Times:
• 1st: 2010 Dodge Viper ACR - 1:33.92
• 2008 Dodge Viper ACR - 1:35.12
• 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 - 1:35.83
• 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 - 1:39.57
• 2009 Nissan GT-R - 1:40.45
• 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG - 1:40.74
• 2009 Audi R8 - 1:40.75
• 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 - 1:40.92
• 2009 Audi R8 R Tronic - 1:40.92
• 2008 Porsche 911 Turbo - 1:42.51
• 2009 Porsche Cayman S PDK - 1:42.95
• 2008 BMW M3 - 1:42.96
• 2009 Cadillac CTS-V - 1:43.85
• 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 - 1:44.32
• 2008 Shelby GT500KR - 1:44.72
• 2009 Jaguar XFR - 1:45.37
• 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS - 1:45.72
• 2007 Lotus Exige S - 1:45.82
• 2009 BMW 135i - 1:46.01
• 2010 Nissan NISMO 370Z - 1:46.53
• 2006 Porsche Cayman S - 1:47.58

R8 manual
http://www.motortrend.com/features/l...lap/index.html
R8 rtronic
http://www.motortrend.com/features/l...lap/index.html

[Bodhii]

The 4.2L R8's seem to like Laguna Seca. Both R8's were faster than the Porsche 911 Turbos! .. It's also surprising that the manual 4.2L R8 was actually slightly faster than the 4.2L R8 R-Tronic.

[trincap]

Hmmm, why didn't they take a v10 out?

[wedouglas]

With more power, the V10 would probably put up quite a nice showing. 38 maybe?

[gazza1]

Interesting numbers..Like Bodhii I am surprised the r-tronic is slower.

As a biased observer on both counts..has any R8 V8 owner including myself ever managed to keep a GT-R in check by such a small margin on the track..

Ones I go up against must have triple turbos.

And a Porsche turbo almost 3 seconds slower?

On 2 tracks were I have tracked both cars they are almost 4 seconds apart.Maybe I can't drive the R8 as well??

However we take it for what it is and believe its accurate.Great to see the V8 still has it.

[kthacher]

I recall seeing another test a while back where the R8 was right on the tail of the GTR. Can't remember the track. I have never driven a GTR but it seems to have the reputation of making almost any driver perform like a pro. Some people seem to like this and others seem to feel that it makes the track experience boring. These numbers imply that the R8 can be coaxed into a higher performance category by a pro driver.

On the other hand the numbers seem to blow up all the convetional wisdom that that the R will always beat the MT. I sure would like to understand the story behind that one. Overall though I think that this shows that the V8 remains a very solid performer. Not slow by any means. Sure would like to see the V10 numbers though.

[gazza1]

[QUOTE=kthacher;38364]I recall seeing another test a while back where the R8 was right on the tail of the GTR. Can't remember the track. I have never driven a GTR but it seems to have the reputation of making almost any driver perform like a pro. Some people seem to like this and others seem to feel that it makes the track experience boring. These numbers imply that the R8 can be coaxed into a higher performance category by a pro driver.

Tend to agree with you on this..i do have more b#lls pushing the GT-R right to the edge and even a tad over where i probably just hold a little in the pocket on the R8.

For me it is the opposite of boring at that speed..but the V8 on the track is such a blast particularly with that Stasis exhaust howling away and not to mention such a sweet handling car.

[Bodhii]

The pro driver who did almost all of these times is a really excellent race driver who is based at Laguna Seca. He has driven that same course literally 1000's and 1000's of times. Randy is about as perfect at driving that particular track as is humanly possible... Maybe as close to being an unbiased computer driving the track as we can ever get. He doesn't make the mistakes that I make in adapting my driving skills to a new track. He knows exactly when and where to shift with perfect timing. This is the reason for the good manual tranny times. Most of us are a bit more human in our driving, and are maybe a little slower and less perfect in our shifts. The Corkscrew fall away hill section on the course is a place where it really takes years to completely master with a wide variety of sport cars.

I hope this classic road course will continue to be an accepted measuring standard by the USA public and media for hi performance cars. It is a much easier place to test, and is more realistic than the Nurburgring as to providing a concise intelligent examination of a hi performance car. And I think its really essential and fun for everyone to find a regular identifiable measuring standard.

[harrison]

A dream come true, to have Laguna Seca as their home track. Hey, Bodhii, which is your home track ? I am making Buttonwillow my home track. I'm signed up with Speed Venture for Buttonwillow Raceway, Dec. 20. A GTR with street tires will be there too. I'll let you guys know how it went. Since the track is pretty tight , will re-enable electric spoiler for the additional downforce to tracked once, Hankook Ventus V12 Evo tires.(which really make lots of screaming warning sunds) . :

[wedouglas]

I'm pretty sure they drove with all the computer aid turned off. He said the GTR is not easy to push to 10/10 without them. If that's the case, it really goes to show who drives whom.

Then again, with the electronics on, the car is just that good.