igirl:
PBS2010:
PS
on top of that, the Corvette was on its regular tires which are not as sticky as those fitted on the GT3
The Corvette made a good / great lap time. But not as great as the GT3's one. So what's the point?
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What’s the point? The basic point is that the Corvette Stingray, also tested in the same (great) magazine, is as fast in the corners as the GT3. That is the short version. A variant of this short version is that if you bought your car for track time only, you may have wasted your money!
The longer version is this:
One is rightly stunned by the track time achieved by the GT3 at the Magny Cours Club track.
Now let us analyze where the GT3 is making speed. Luckily, the same magazine also tested the Corvette Stingray (European spec of course), and both tests were performed in similar conditions (same track, etc…). Some detailed data is given on the performance of each car during its record lap time, in terms of speed and Gs in a certain number of reference corners, with the addition of the top straight-line speed. Usual stuff for Motorsport Magazine.
The GT3 makes a killing in the straight where it achieves a top speed of 210 km/H vs 197 km/H for the Corvette (6,6% faster than the Corvette, if my calculation is correct). However, in the turns, it is not so far ahead: 65 km/H in the hairpin vs 66 km/H (so slower than the Stingray). In the other turns they are basically idem, save the “pif/paf” (kink) where the GT3 is clearly ahead (5.88% faster), a surprising outcome for the GT3 whose weight distribution is much worse than the 50/50 of the Corvette -- most probably due to the RWS of the GT3 – I would be interested in reading expert opinion about that.
And again, on top of that, the Corvette is on “street” tires while the GT3 has the Pilot Cup tires.
To summarize what I read from this data: the GT3 is faster than the Stingray only in a straight line (I would hate to be told I only lapped someone because I was faster in the straight). The kink speed is faster, but so little time is spent in the kink. The better time achieved by the GT3 vs the Stingray is therefore coming only from its much faster straight-line speed.
That is really a surprise given how much praise has gone to the GT3, most of which based on test drives in isolation or, even worse, based on unsubstantiated fanaticism for the brand.
One last fact for consideration: Higher up in this forum, in the heated exchanges on which is best (Turbo S vs GT3), someone quoted that, on the Nordschleife, the Turbo S fitted with the same tires as the GT3 was faster than the GT3. It implies that more power makes the difference. May be the GT3 is not so much of a handling genius afterall. Despite all the marketing crap, the 911 is maybe reaching its limitations.
My respect for the Corvette folks goes very high and my opinion regarding the yet arrogant Porsche is damaged.
I am always cautious to wait until I gather reliable reviews and tests data before embarking on a new car, and resist succumbing to the “buzz”. I am glad I did.
BTW, to rub it in, the Stingray sounds best and if the forthcoming Z06 sound as great as the ZR1 that will be a riot.
Cheers.