Motor Trend:Top 10 cars around Laguna Seca

[Italiano]

Top 10 fastest production cars Motor Trend has lapped around Laguna Seca
By Karla Sanchez | Motor Trend – Mon, Dec 17, 2012 7:56 PM EST





All of the cars – including the ZR1 and Viper for our latest story —
were driven by Motor Trend contributor and race car ace Randy Pobst.

some of his comments ....



2012 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 - We already knew there was something sinister about this
red and black devil when it showed up with 666 miles on the odometer. Despite having fewer
horses than several other contenders, it showed them and the Laguna Seca raceway who is boss.

2010 Ferrari 458 Italia – This wild horse ran like the wind, lapping the raceway in 1:36.2,
and it did it ever so gracefully. “There aren’t any flaws,” we said of the Italian supercar,
in which we took extra laps in just because we could.

2012 Lamborghini Aventador - Just like the raging bull it was named after, the Aventador
stormed the circuit with all its might, but it didn’t come easy, as the wild animal was rather
difficult to tame. Nonetheless, it lapped the circuit in an impressive 1:35.4.

2012 Lexus LFA – Pobst said the LFA’s brakes were some of the most powerful he’d ever
experienced, but had some reservations about the car’s performance: “It’s not a good-time car
in a relaxed, casual way. It’s a good-time car in a serious work way. … And for me, that’s
less enjoyable than something I can just haul ass in.”



http://wot.motortrend.com/zr1-or-srt...#axzz2FWMoSaxt

http://www.motortrend.com/features/laguna_lap/

[Calamity Jesus]

Is this a Chevy commercial.

[SilverSubaab]

Isn't this a repost, or did I read this on another forum?

[Italiano]

I performed a "Title:" search on "Laguna Sega" in
the new & rumors & motorsports forum = didn't find it

However if it is a repost, my apologies .... it was a slow post day
around here today - figured I would throw something up to get the chatter going


& yes, I confess ...I'm a huge Z06 fan

[express_wagon]

2 GTRs? They are the god damn same thing except one cost a crapload more.

[warpath]

No ZR1???

[White out]

It's on the list.

[warpath]

Originally Posted by White out

It's on the list.

Crap, i missed it.

[White out]

Wonder why they didn't use a '10 ACR?

It ran the track in 1:33.9 and was given a special paint job for its accomplishment.

[manticus]

Originally Posted by White out

Wonder why they didn't use a '10 ACR?

It ran the track in 1:33.9 and was given a special paint job for its accomplishment.

They probably didn't have one on hand. I'm assuming they borrowed most of the cars they're driving and the used ones are probably borrowed from existing customers.

[SCRAPPYDO]

I am a bit shocked at how the McLaren lost this..

Seems fishy

[gotsol]

No Porsche. Interesting

[mhoward1]

Just FYI

Motor trend recently had the opportunity to take America’s favorite sports car Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and the gorgeous and ALL new 2013 Dodge SRT Viper to the Mazda Race way – Laguna Seca in Salinas, CA for an awesome day at the track. Guess what? They broke a track record!


Both cars were reported to have been amazing track cars but there was a surprise in store. Randy Pobst who is an American race car driver had the privilege to be behind the wheel of the Corvette ZR1 as he broke the Laguna Seca track record at 1:33.70. This comes in just below the previous record which was set by a 2010 Dodge Viper ACR 3-years ago at 1:33.90. That’s hugely impressive considering the ZR1 used was completely stock as you would buy it from a Chevrolet dealer.

Oh and in case you are wondering. The new SRT Viper lapped Laguna Seca at 1:35.77. Yes, it’s slower than the previous ACR that held the record, but that’s an ACR and this was a standard Viper

[mhoward1]

wait...the new Z06 is $104k???

[Calamity Jesus]

Originally Posted by express_wagon

2 GTRs? They are the god damn same thing except one cost a crapload more.

But look at the graphs next to them in the infographic.. ignore the numbers that show they're nearly identical.. look at the graphs! They're obviously completely different cars!

Originally Posted by mhoward1

Just FYI

Yet the ZR1 was #5 in the infographic.

Originally Posted by mhoward1

wait...the new Z06 is $104k???

Not according to Chevy's website.

[mhoward1]

Originally Posted by Calamity Jesus

Yet the ZR1 was #5 in the infographic.

On the graph is a 2009 ZR1, the article is for the new 2013 ZR1.

[E. Nick]

Wonder if the '13 SRT had the track pack... Nevertheless, any year ZR1 is a tire swap away from being as capable as a '13 - awesome.

[SWP n Gold]

Yeah...the 2012 ZO6 isn't $104K so there's something going on here...

[aschen]

I'm guessing it has the z07 option package, or whatever they call it with many of the zzr1 parts except the engine. hugely impressive performance from the veyet as usual. I'd love to see a gt2rs in the mix.

[SCRAPPYDO]

Not really believing the vette can out perform the McLaren, I did some research on this.

The vette must have had the Z07 package. Why do I say this. Upon inspection of the times, in all situations the McLaren is a faster accelerating car, so the vette must have won on braking.. How is this possible you ask. Simple, tires.

the Z07 vette has R comp tires. But so does the McLaren...

Lets examine size...

Vette: F 285
McLaren: F 235

Vette: R 335
McLaren R 305

The vette must have won on the brakes, and powering out of corners with its massive tires giving it tons of grip.

Still for comparison, the top gear test track has the Mclaren 20+ spots ahead of the Z06

So go figure..

[gpshumway]

Originally Posted by SCRAPPYDO

Not really believing the vette can out perform the McLaren, I did some research on this.

The vette must have had the Z07 package. Why do I say this. Upon inspection of the times, in all situations the McLaren is a faster accelerating car, so the vette must have won on braking.. How is this possible you ask. Simple, tires.

the Z07 vette has R comp tires. But so does the McLaren...
[SNIP]
Still for comparison, the top gear test track has the Mclaren 20+ spots ahead of the Z06

So go figure..

I think you've got it basically right, but remember the Z06 that ran at TopGear was an early (07?) example, they've made a bunch of detail improvements since then, most importantly the tires and the shocks. The TopGear car was still on the crappy Goodyears IIRC. Look at the times for Lightning lap from C&D, they've run the Z06 three times, the latest Z07 example is over six seconds faster around VIR than the original one from 2007. Also the TG track is really a horsepower track, VIR and Laguna put higher premium on grip, thus the TG track plays to the McLaren's advantage.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...to-2012-page-8

As aschen said, the Z06 with the Z07 option package (brilliant marketing, GM) bumps up to $100k, it includes the carbon brakes and splitter from the ZR1 to go with those gumball tires. Awesome track times none the less.

[REX8]

Originally Posted by SCRAPPYDO

Not really believing the vette can out perform the McLaren, I did some research on this.

The vette must have had the Z07 package. Why do I say this. Upon inspection of the times, in all situations the McLaren is a faster accelerating car, so the vette must have won on braking.. How is this possible you ask. Simple, tires.

the Z07 vette has R comp tires. But so does the McLaren...

Lets examine size...

Vette: F 285
McLaren: F 235

Vette: R 335
McLaren R 305

The vette must have won on the brakes, and powering out of corners with its massive tires giving it tons of grip.

Still for comparison, the top gear test track has the Mclaren 20+ spots ahead of the Z06

So go figure..

I don't know how much research is required to deduce that the slower car, with the larger, stickier tires (PSCs are faster than the corsas), probably made its gains between the starts and ends of the corners.

[Masterauto]

What happened to Fords claim on the Boss 302?

[warpath]

Originally Posted by Masterauto

What happened to Fords claim on the Boss 302?

PM SubED.

[hkerekes]

Originally Posted by Masterauto

What happened to Fords claim on the Boss 302?

Its atleast 60 hp down from all of them and only cost $50k. LS version lapped in 1:39.5 not too bad considering.

Only car with a solid rear axle?