997 vs. RX8 vs. Pontiac GXP at Laguna Seca

dd74 · 06-01-2007, 10:23 AM

There was a GT race at Laguna Seca last week, featuring an RX8 and several 997s and a couple V8 Pontiac GXPs (which were pretty awesome, btw). What was really striking was how easily the RX8 stayed up with the 997s. The Pontiacs were very fast on the straights but needed more brake and slower speeds to corner, where the 997s and RX8s caught up to the Pontiacs.

The question I have in all this is how can the RX8s seem as fast as they are in the straights, bearing down on the 997s, when they have at least 50 or more horsepower less? I'm not certain, but does GT allow engine modifications? I read somewhere that the RX8 engine is bone stock, but the car has a tube chassis. I also know the RX8 weighs less than the 997, but it still seems odd how they were really up the 997s rear throughout the majority of the race.

Anyone have any insight into this? Porsche won, btw, though I think victory came as a result of pit strategy.

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

It's all about the weight. The 997's have (unfairly) been given weight penalties, while the winning RX8's haven't. And for Laguna Seca, the Porsches were given restrictor plates to use. At least that's what's been going on in the Rolex GT series...

-Z-man.

Jims5543 · 06-01-2007, 10:56 AM

When I did a DE about 2 years ago there was an RX8 there shaking down its setup. I was in my RX7 which is not slow by any stretch. I let the RX8 pass me then decided to give chase and see if I could keep up with it. I was amazed by the pace that car had, he would creep away on the straights and I had to brake a lot earlier than him. In the turns he just flat walked me.

Very quick car with less HP than me, I wondered what the minimum weight is for the RX8?

dd74 · 06-01-2007, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro

Very quick car with less HP than me, I wondered what the minimum weight is for the RX8?

From what I've read on the RX8 forums, minimum stock weight from the factory is less than Mazda lists - which is strange. Anyway, it's about 2,700 pounds. Some late-80s Carreras weigh more than that.

Jims5543 · 06-01-2007, 11:09 AM

I meant what the min weight is for the race car. My street car is 2500 lbs and I am getting ready to try to drop another 100-200 lbs out of it.

I visited Speed Source on a tour one time and they had all 3 of their RX8's on display for us to see this was befroe the debut in Daytona about 3 years ago. They would not pop the hood on them but I did find out they were running Motec M400's in them. They claimed the were getting approx 270RWHP out of them, not bad for a little 1.3 liter.

There is also another RX8 running a non-turbo version of the 20B or 3 Rotor engine and I hear they were getting in the 400RWHP range with them. I think they are tube frame cars though.

dd74 · 06-01-2007, 11:27 AM

Jim - 2200 as of VIR. Last week at Laguna, the RX8 was penalized 75 pounds, so currently, the car weighs 2275.

Jims5543 · 06-01-2007, 11:41 AM

Hmmmm.... I need to learn how to drive then. I was on slicks that day and could not hand, I had my boost set to run me in the 330RWHP range and I weighed about 2600 lbs without driver that weekend.

I got waxed by that RX8 I was VERY impressed with its pace.

dd74 · 06-01-2007, 11:43 AM

Jim - who's Motec? Do they build rotary engines?

Jims5543 · 06-01-2007, 12:18 PM

Proudly pasted on the side of most GT Porsches. I run an M4 in my RX7. It replaces the stock computer so you can tune the engine for the most power.

http://www.motec.com/

NICKG · 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dd74
Jim - who's Motec?

that is the guy the based Vin Diesel's character on in Fast and furious.....Moe is the man!

"need more power?"
"Nah, foe trufh, I gots me enuff powa, I's just need Mo-tech"

Deschodt · 06-04-2007, 12:43 PM

The Rolex series is all about parity, kinda like Speed challenge series... Like said above, they penalize brand A, favor B... and reevaluate...

I'm also always baffled by this as a stock 997 would murder a stock RX8 with its 4.5 lb/ft or torque ;-) and let's not even bring the pontiac into this, not sure about this year but last year it was essentially a tube frame car, whihc shoul dhave been in another class altogether... They have weird rules, very NASCAR like, I don't like them much, but occasionally that makes for close racing !

Jims5543 · 06-04-2007, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Deschodt
The Rolex series is all about parity, kinda like Speed challenge series... Like said above, they penalize brand A, favor B... and reevaluate...

I'm also always baffled by this as a stock 997 would murder a stock RX8 with its 4.5 lb/ft or torque ;-) and let's not even bring the pontiac into this, not sure about this year but last year it was essentially a tube frame car, whihc shoul dhave been in another class altogether... They have weird rules, very NASCAR like, I don't like them much, but occasionally that makes for close racing !

I am not sure what class your discussing. There is a class where the stock Chassis and stock engine are used, for the RX8, at least I am sure of that. I actually saw the Speedsource RX8's in person in the Speedsource factory and they were factory cars with the interiors removed.

The tube frame ones are in another class all together. The also run a non-stock 3 rotor engine (20B) and are much lighter and faster then the stockers.

I am just unsure what class that tube frame deal is in. I know the Stock street versions are in a GT Class.