[Marc]

Let me start out by saying that I love my Mclaren Mp4-12C. It is a great car and a blast to drive. What puzzles me is this. How is it possible that the 2010 and 2012 Corvette ZR1 that cost half as much as the McLaren and use manual transmissions, achieve better Nurburgring times, 7:26.4 and 7.19.63 versus 7:28 for the McLaren. The time listed for the Porsche GT2RS is 7:18. The Lexus LFA and Dodge Viper are also listed as faster around the track. I would have expected the Mclaren to set the fastest time. It supposedly has the most cutting edge technology, it is relatively light and has a very fast dual clutch transmission (this should save alot of time compared to shifting a manual). Anyone else expected a much better Nurburgring time, given the times achieved by these other cars?

 

[ergoproxy]

I've no idea. It seems there is a LOT more going on than just weight/power ratio (which I think is best in the GT2 RS of the cars you mentioned). The 2RS 7:18 time is said to have been on a shorter track, so figure 7:21. What comes to mind is that the car's software is not completely sorted, that ring times were not a target during development, though a crash was reported

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2011/05/mclaren-mp4-12c-crashes-at-nurburgring.html

and that no one is running cup tires or P zero corsas on their 12C. I'm not an owner but personally I'd rather they perfect the car for road conditions. Apologies if you've already considered this stuff. It is curious--some folks predicted sub 7:10 ring times.

 

[TougeSpirit]

The Sport Auto driver Horst van Saurma only did one lap in the MP4-12C, a car which he never had driven before. There is tons of time to be had. Also, the Pirelli P Zero Corsas are not as fast as Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires.

 

[andy c]

The Sport Auto driver Horst van Saurma only did one lap in the MP4-12C, a car which he never had driven before. There is tons of time to be had. Also, the Pirelli P Zero Corsas are not as fast as Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires.

This!!!!,but mainly due to the fact the car has only had the one timed lap after HVS had one practice lap,if you compare that to the 100,s that the team of 3 GTRS did to get their time,aswell as probably even more in 911,s,and HVS is a 911 track driver but only a journo not a pro driver,then you can see theres chunks of time still to come is someone made a proper factory effort

 

[Jaymoney]

I have a feeling about this as well. Lexus supposedly went through 4 drivers of lap after lap to get their time and as it's been said, the others have done their rigging also. I think that the 12C would put down a time at or under 7:20 with a practiced driver familiar with the car. We keep hearing about how different it is so it's possible he was expecting some thing else. Plus that crash probably put them on their heels a bit.

 

[Napolis]

If I may. Street cars are generally not set up for the Ring. At the 24 we set up telemetry that could measure P 4/5 CM over the section that Magazines refer to as "The Ring". We ran a 6:51. As we qualified exactly between the McLaren's I'd estimate they ran similar times. These of course are GT3 not street McLaren's. The Street McLaren's have a lot of active controls that make the car easier and faster for most except for real race drivers to drive and for a real race car driver to learn a car takes more than one lap. One lap often means little at the Ring as weather and air temperature require different set up and the cars that the factory's use to go for a "record" are optimized. Proper tires make a huge difference and as other's here have said we've found Michelins to be faster at the Ring than Pirelli's. Except in pure race conditions under the same regulations comparing "performance" is IMO silly. All of these are a lot faster than most of us and again IMO one should buy the one they, not others like.

As an aside the McLaren's beat the 458 GT 1 last weekend and as always if you want to learn why that means nothing head to Ferrari Chat.

http://gt1world.com/news/details/victory-puts-vita4one-racing-bmw-duo-top-of-the-pile

 

[andy c]

Thanks for the heads up Jim,and the common sense