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Went to Millbrook Proving Circuit today in a 458 Italia.
We did a launch control start on the mile straight and by the time I had to stand on the brakes we were at 186 mph (indicated at three quarters of a mile point) needing to hit 40 mph at the banked exit turn.
Sweaty hands - you bet - even after the third run as it is a narrow strip of concrete/tarmac which shrinks at 180 mph plus.
What struck me is that all the talk and claims about MP4-12C versus 458 Italia is a sort of nonsense as either car will thrill a mere mortal. I don't think most people would notice a second here or there over three quarters of a mile, unless racing of course or at the Bar of The Barley Mow.
Any views out there of performance differences at this level of ballistic pace? Is it academic?
By the way on the Alpine circuit the car skipped/shimmied sideways at a couple of points which surprised me but the circuit is designed to test and work chassis, suspension and engineering competence.
We did a launch control start on the mile straight and by the time I had to stand on the brakes we were at 186 mph (indicated at three quarters of a mile point) needing to hit 40 mph at the banked exit turn.
Sweaty hands - you bet - even after the third run as it is a narrow strip of concrete/tarmac which shrinks at 180 mph plus.
What struck me is that all the talk and claims about MP4-12C versus 458 Italia is a sort of nonsense as either car will thrill a mere mortal. I don't think most people would notice a second here or there over three quarters of a mile, unless racing of course or at the Bar of The Barley Mow.
Any views out there of performance differences at this level of ballistic pace? Is it academic?
By the way on the Alpine circuit the car skipped/shimmied sideways at a couple of points which surprised me but the circuit is designed to test and work chassis, suspension and engineering competence.