Embarassed by a 4 banger at the track

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

Video of a Lotus kicking a Ferrari and Porsche at the track

http://oneeleven.free.fr/leluc.mpg

WARNING don't click on the link if you have a slooooow internet connection.

EDIT: let's try this one again

tobluforu · tobluforu's Garage

What kind of lotus was that?

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

Either elise or the new 340R

Dantilla · 08-25-2003, 04:29 PM

Mr. Chapman's words strike again-

"Add lightness"

Bill Douglas · 08-25-2003, 04:44 PM

Yes, but the lotus was probably knackered by the end of the race.

TRE Cup · TRE Cup's Garage

the car looked to be an Elise. These lil 1500 lb cars come with close to 200 hp stock. The new ones coming to the usa will have vvti toyota motors in them. So, we need to be careful picking on these buggers at the track- they work and they'll be reliable!

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

Sign me up for one if they have a decent a/c system and a decent dealership this time around.

Jack Olsen · 06:13 PM

Of course, the guy in the Ferrari couldn't drive at all (do you see how he was tiptoeing through every turn and braking zone?) and the Porsche guy wasn't being half as aggressive as the Lotus driver, who was driving like a cowboy.

That's not to knock the Lotus as a platform, of course (or even to knock driving like a cowboy

). But I don't think that Ferrari driver, in particular, should have even been allowed out on a course with open passing rules.

john_colasante · 08-25-2003, 07:32 PM

I think that blue Porsche was a GT3 Cup. If so there is no way that little Lotus should be able to hang with that Cup car. As Jack says this video is not a good way to compare relative laptimes of those cars.

GrindingGears · 08-25-2003, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill Douglas
Yes, but the lotus was probably knackered by the end of the race.

I SECOND THAT !

Dbelleperc · Dbelleperc's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by JackOlsen
Of course, the guy in the Ferrari couldn't drive at all (do you see how he was tiptoeing through every turn and braking zone?)

Maybe the Ferrari driver was tiptoeing it because he did not want to wreak his 400,000 dollar F40 trying to show off.

Just like these. Ferrari F40's

beepbeep · 08-26-2003, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by john_colasante
I think that blue Porsche was a GT3 Cup. If so there is no way that little Lotus should be able to hang with that Cup car. As Jack says this video is not a good way to compare relative laptimes of those cars.

That little Lotus probably has higher cornering speed in most curves than GT3 cup...

Yargk · Yargk's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by john_colasante
I think that blue Porsche was a GT3 Cup. If so there is no way that little Lotus should be able to hang with that Cup car. As Jack says this video is not a good way to compare relative laptimes of those cars.

Yep, I think I remember seeing in a magazine ad, blue cup cars with white writing on the side like in the video. They should be pretty well developed cup cars as well. Too bad the driver wasn't as developed. If anyone has good GT3, street, cup, or race videos, let me know. I'd love to see them in action.

john_colasante · 08-26-2003, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by beepbeep
That little Lotus probably has higher cornering speed in most curves than GT3 cup...

no way

beepbeep · 08-26-2003, 04:19 AM

yes way...it's all abought weight and tires.

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

If you watch the video all the cars that the Lotus pass were in the curves, on the straight the Ferrari and Porsche was able to over take the Lotus, but from the video the Lotus handle extremely well in the curves.

I would say that both of my Lotus has higher cornering speed than the Porsche. Being that they are mid engine chassis they exhibit more neutral handeling compare with the Porsche. There is less weight transfer from the time you apply the brakes to the time you back on the gas.

john_colasante · 08-26-2003, 06:11 AM

OK, the GT3 Cup weighs 2500 pounds, has slick racing tires, aero downforce and 380 horsepower. A proper race driver in the Cup is going to be outbraking that go-cart and accelerating through those turns and blowing the doors off that go-cart on the exits. The guy driving the Cup in that video was a grandma.

sithot · 08-26-2003, 06:23 AM

Power to weight ratio, gentleman. No accounting for talent which may vary.
Did anyone notice how leisurely the driver of the giant killer handled the car. What does that tell you?

BTW: I've a good friend that regularly wears out "Crotch Rockets" riding a very well tuned (ahem, er... hot) and sorted 1975 900cc BMW. Most riders are in over their heads on these big bore bikes. Mike on the other hand is a former road racer and can wear out just about anyone short of a Superbike or GP rider.

Tom

hobieboy · 08-26-2003, 08:08 AM

I think this is the classic case of driver is the biggest limiting factor here.
The Porsche & Ferrari certainly didn't look to be driving the correct line, but even the Lotus doesn't seem to do any better in my eyes.
Correction in the middle of a corner, hands shuffle around the wheels, ...
I think we are looking at bad vs worse driving here. So forget about the cars

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

Porsche use to make giant killer car in the 356 and 550 series. I'm sure owners of Ferrari, Jag, Aston Martin, Mercedes, etc had the same comments about those pesky go kart from Porsche that some of us now have about the Lotus.