Ferrari under 7 minutes on the ring

[stealthn]

Even though it's not quite a street car, still pretty impressive. Enjoy

[Dueller]

That...was....flying. Anybody know the absolute record?

Edit: DOH!!! Just googled it...Radical 8 @ 6:48

http://www.fastestlaps.com/track2.html

[herr_oberst]

Whew! It's almost like he had been there before!

[Schumi]

Race tires. They do magical things.

I imagine if a GT2 or Corvette ZR1 ran race slicks during testing on the ring, you'd see some similar results.

GT3 cup cars, with 100 less HP than a GT2 run what would be sub 7 minutes on the nordschleife during the 24 hour races there (which run the full course, with the GP track. but it's easy to extrapolate).



The absolute fastest anything has ever been around there, race or not, is Stefan Bellof in a 956- 6:11, during a qualifying lap, in traffic.

YouTube - Stefan Bellof Nordschleife in 6:11

Due to the aging track conditions, that time won't be broken, ever.

[m21sniper]

What a goofy shape for a racetrack.

[ckissick]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

What a goofy shape for a racetrack.

When I race it on Gran Turismo (with a map of the track showing, just like in the video), my kids call it The Pig.

[sammyg2]

1975, the long way around (14 miles, 22.8 km)


and Nick Heidfeld doing it in a BMW F1 a few years ago.

The 24.433 km variant was used: Nordschleife + GP Strecke: Mercedesarena/kurtzambindung (so not the full GP track).
Laptimes were 8:12, 8:30, and 7:29 (new record).
The previous record for this 24km layout was 8:06 (Jurgen Alzen, Porsche 996 Turbo VLN, at 11-6-2005).
Note: Heidfeld's 7:29 CANNOT be compared to the old records of Lauda (6:58) and Bellof (6:11), because the track is now a different length: In the days of Lauda is was 22,8 km and Bellof drove it on the 20 km layout.
Also did Heidfeld slow down at the 2 main straights, for fotoshooting. The car was modified with short gears, allowing only a topspeed of 275 km/h. They also used Brigestone Demo tires, "these have no grip", according to Heidfeld.
This video is a montage with the slow-down parts removed, and shows that Heidfeld COULD have driven a 6:40 lap that day.
BMW engineers even estimate a 5:30 lap would be possible if the restrictions would be removed.

[pwd72s]

Fun stuff...thanks guys!

[HunterVonWurst]

They don't show the car, so here it is:

[artplumber]

What happens if somebody knocks one of those little ears off by mistake?

But seriously, remember the whole "there's no real 'ring record because of all the conditions/info which is usually excluded from these press releases..."

[HunterVonWurst]

Originally Posted by artplumber

What happens if somebody knocks one of those little ears off by mistake?

They're about $7k ea.

[lowyder993s]

Interesting note on those 599's...according to top gear...owners may buy the car, but cannot take posession of it. Ferrari takes it to the the track for you and collects it at the end of the day.
Now...should I become one of those toothless powerball winners...that is up there on the list

[porsche4life]

Supposedly it is the same way with the FXX. I'm sorry... But if I lay down that kind of coin... I want the damned thing in my garage so I can drool on it every night before I go to bed....

[Schumi]

I believe that is referring to the 599 GTO. The FXX is the same way. It is not street legal.

The 599 is by far street legal and you do get to take it home. There are some footballers who prance around in them from time to time I think.

[Embraer]

my friend has a 599GTB. it sits in HER garage....she's too scared to drive it.

[coolngroovy]

Originally Posted by Embraer

my friend has a 599GTB. it sits in HER garage....she's too scared to drive it.

Can i have her number?
I would like to take her for a ride.

[willtel]

Originally Posted by Schumi

I believe that is referring to the 599 GTO. The FXX is the same way. It is not street legal.

The 599 is by far street legal and you do get to take it home. There are some footballers who prance around in them from time to time I think.

From what I can tell the 599GTB is the standard road car, the 599GTO is an upgrade of the GTB with more track focus. The 599xx is the full on race car, it isn't street legal and stays in Ferrari's possession and must participate in their race series, much like the FXX was to the Enzo.

[Schumi]

So there are three versions. Ah.

Ferrari has it good when they get their customers to fork over money to pay for cars they don't get to keep and aren't allowed to do with what they please.