2012 Corvette *Z06* rips Laguna Seca faster than 911GT3 RS or Lexus LFA

[kaisen]

2012 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 - 2011 Best Driver's Car Contender - Motor Trend

Not great comments from legend Randy Probst (other than engine, turning response, and grip) but the Z06 turns a 1:34.43 lap time, where a 911 GT3 RS did 1:36.77....... what would the ZR1 with 125 more horsepower do?


PREVIOUS CONTENDER LAP TIMES


Lexus LFA: 1:36.39

Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca: 1:41.06

Lotus Evora S: 1:42.49

Porsche Cayman R: 1:41.64

BMW 1M: 1:43.31

Porsche 911 GT3 RS: 1:36.77

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG: 1:38.82

(God, what an exhaust note....)

[kaisen]

Porsche 911 GT3 RS - 2011 Best Driver's Car Contender - Motor Trend

GT3RS article and video (1:36.77 lap time)

[rick-l]

GM seems to own Motor Trend.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by rick-l

GM seems to own Motor Trend.

If the taxpayers own GM, and GM owns Motor Trend, and I'm a taxpayer, does that mean I own a car magazine? That's just too cool!

[Z-man]

Anyone know the lap times around Laguna Seca of a well sorted 944? Or a Mustang Boss 302?

Just wonderin'....

-Z

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by Z-man

Anyone know the lap times around Laguna Seca of a well sorted 944? Or a Mustang Boss 302?

Just wonderin'....

-Z

Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca: 2011 Best Driver's Car Contender - Motor Trend

Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca article and video (1:41.06 lap time)



I'm not sure about the 944

[pwd72s]

Wow...when I clicked on this, somehow all videos played at once. Couldn't understand a word anybody said, but the engine sounds were wonderful when blended together.

The nerve of those USA cars...learning to do a road course well. Who'd a thunk it 5 decades ago?

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Wow...when I clicked on this, somehow all videos played at once. Couldn't understand a word anybody said, but the engine sounds were wonderful when blended together.

Stupid Motor Trend autoplay.... just pause the videos you don't want

[pwd72s]

That's what I did...but DO listen to all at once, it's a gas!

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by Z-man

Anyone know the lap times around Laguna Seca of a well sorted 944? Or a Mustang Boss 302?

Just wonderin'....

-Z

GSR class (well prepped 944) track records with POC is 1:46. I turned a 1:45 in my screaming 172hp SC.

[ted]

fun videos...I guess no run flats on the Vette?
Melt down all 3 on the track for 30 minutes.
I bet the Porsche would quickly win.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by ted

fun videos...I guess no run flats on the Vette?
Melt down all 3 on the track for 30 minutes.
I bet the Porsche would quickly win.

Vette and Porsche both run Michelin Pilot Cup Sport tires
Vette and Porsche both run carbon ceramic brakes

I'd take that bet.... they're close. Tires have grip, brakes have bite. So what would break or give up on the Vette?

[Flieger]

Road and Track did this at GingerMan and the LFA won. They said the times were close and the order could have been reversed due to drivers learning the cars and track better as time went on. They had a problem with the timers so only got a few good laps.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Z-man

Anyone know the lap times around Laguna Seca of a well sorted 944? Or a Mustang Boss 302?

Just wonderin'....

-Z

Z-man beat me to it.

[masraum]

I wonder how the ZR1 would do.

[HelmetHead]

Just read the new ZR1 ran the "ring" in 7:16!!!!

[ted]

Originally Posted by kaisen

Vette and Porsche both run Michelin Pilot Cup Sport tires
Vette and Porsche both run carbon ceramic brakes

I'd take that bet.... they're close. Tires have grip, brakes have bite. So what would break or give up on the Vette?

A cool start at a single lap or 30 mins of heat soaking are 2 different things.

Does the Vette still only have a quart or so in the rear end with no cooler?
Can the trans take the punishment with no cooler?
A blown car makes a lot of heat, did they get the oil cooler right for hot lapping?

The brakes might hold up, do they all have front brake cooling ducts?

The Vette would be a better car with the Porsche seats.
I'd like to drive them all.
Damm what a riot listening to them all at once.
Porsche 911 GT2 v Corvette ZR1 - autocar.co.uk - YouTube

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by ted

A cool start at a single lap or 30 mins of heat soaking are 2 different things.

Does the Vette still only have a quart or so in the rear end with no cooler?

They do have differential coolers, but when was the last time you heard of a rear differential failure in a C6 Corvette? I haven't. Except drag racing with slicks and 700+rwhp, but that's not a heat soak issue. But they do have pumps and coolers? Would you like to see a photo?

Can the trans take the punishment with no cooler?

Absolutely. And the C6 Z06, C6 ZR1, and C6 Gran Sport *DO* have coolers. The 6speed manuals will easily take the punishment.

A blown car makes a lot of heat, did they get the oil cooler right for hot lapping?

Sure, but this is the Z06 -- naturally aspirated. Not blown. The ZR1 is blown, and makes 133 more horsepower and mountains more torque.

The brakes might hold up, do they all have front brake cooling ducts?

Yes, they have cooling ducts, front and rear. Again they're carbon ceramic brakes, a little larger than the Porsche's

The Vette would be a better car with the Porsche seats.

God yes. The GT3 RS seats are to die for.

[ted]

You can find some 08 and newer Z06s with low miles for under 30k.
Almost Half of the price of a similar used GT3.
I track a DE upgraded C5Z now.
Yes to everything fails at the track, eventually.
Carbon Fiber brakes, are those expensive to service?
Randy gave it away, on the Gt3 54 to 58 seconds in, thats what I'm talking about.

getting a point by from a Chip in black Z.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzjTUYViDKs

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by ted

You can find some 08 and newer Z06s with low miles for under 30k.
Almost Half of the price of a similar used GT3.

Makes sense, the Z06 as-tested (Centennial Edition) was $104K, but base Z06 pricing starts at $76K

The 911 GT3 RS as-tested was $153K, base at $140K

So a Z06 (depending on brakes and carbon fiber content) is $36-64K less than the RS version when new. A "regular" GT3 and a "regular" Z06 (like a 2008, there were no carbon brakes or body available) would still have that kind of price delta. Expressed as a percentage, they are similar. In absolute dollars lost, the Porsche is the winner (loser?). However, viewed decades from now a Porsche will hold its value better, right? I mean, surely there are no $200K used forty year old Corvettes, are there. Oh, wait.

It's hard to beat a Vette in bang for the buck.

I'd still rather 'track' someone else's GT3 RS.... what a surgical instrument. Well-built, very purposeful. Still, the Vette beats it around the track.

For the same money, a ZR1 would surely widen the gap. Even a turbocharged GT2 RS would have trouble.

I track a DE upgraded C5Z now.

I've seen the videos. Impressive. Sounds like a good time to upgrade to a C6 Z06.

Yes to everything fails at the track, eventually.

Yes, even Porsches and Ferraris

Carbon Fiber brakes, are those expensive to service?

Yes, quite expensive on the Bugatti Veyron, Ferrari Enzo, or Porsche GT3 RS too....