Why Nurburgring Lap Times Matter

"Tim (Fractal Footwork)" (fractalfootwork)
12/06/2013 at 12:30 • Filed to: Nurburgring, OppositeLock

For automakers, the Nurburgring has become the primal estate to test the performance of their upcoming release, but some feel this has spiraled into a pissing contest through lack of regulation of what justifies a 'fair lap'. With Formula 1 boiling down to a European version of IndyCar through the FIA's iron fist of regulation and the production car top speed race dominated by exorbitant horsepower that no buyer rich enough to afford a Bugatti Veyron can actually handle, let alone find a long enough straight to meet their maker, the Nurburgring has become the last benchmark for performance that is available to squabble over.

The top speed race is drawing to a close, as all of the established supercar manufactures have abandoned it in favor of the Nurburgring ethos: how fast can we lap a circuit? They realize that top speed can only do so much for sales, both in sheer marketing and how it affects the performance of the chassis. To achieve top speed, the gearbox requires longer gearing; this compromises !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

We're running out of frontiers and limits to break through due to the ever impending fear of death, not necessarily from the parties involved, but from the man ; you know, the man . However this frontier has recently evolved against the man to the point of us consciously avoiding the law as part of our manifest destiny of speed.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is firm evidence of this change in what records we consider to be a breakthrough, or what we consider to be impressive. The type of record breaking journey that Ed found himself on has become increasingly more dangerous than any form of Motorsport due to the excessive speed though traffic his team drove without any sort of modern race-inspired protection; if they lost control, they died. Mercedes would love to claim this record for themselves, but they can't due to the legal quandary and moral expectations of buyers.

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So that leaves the Nurburgring.

McLaren recently sent their !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but are refraining from releasing the exact time, either for the fear of giving LaFerrari a benchmark or because they didn't beat Porsche's 918 which circled in 6 minutes and 57 seconds (most likely the former). This battle between the makers of today's hypercars is starting to throw more weight around than Formula 1, and is becoming even more exciting to watch.

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The lack of regulation is a worry, and a simple fix would be hold automakers to running their production-spec car with no additions or reductions in bodywork/aero, but one would need some sort of legal body to hold these facts and figures.

But above all else, I hope all of you are enjoying this frontier before it is stripped from our eyes forever.

DISCUSSION (15)

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
12/06/2013 at 12:34

It's these types of dick measuring contests that inspire engineers and racers from young ages. I love it.

Joe_Limon > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
12/06/2013 at 12:34

Isn't the ring for sale again? It should be easy enough to hire a couple people to validate the consistency of runs.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
12/06/2013 at 12:44

I agree. Here's the way I look at it:

Automakers release 0-60 times, 1/4 mile times, etc. A 'Ring lap time is just another measuring stick when it comes to performance. If an automaker were to market their car with a 0-60 time that is based on a car that is not in stock form, that discrepancy would show up, pretty quickly, in auto journalists' tests. That's why the times they use for marketing are nearly always conservative, so that the magazines and websites can tell us their cars are actually even faster (and in some cases, more powerful) than they've advertised.

It's a automakers prerogative to release 'Ring lap times, or any other performance spec, or not. If they've done it with a car that is not stock, and individual cars in the hands of fast drivers cannot come close to the time, the marketed time will be questioned. I can't see that there will ever be a formal standard, other than some kind of honor system. It's up to journalists or individuals to test their claims for accuracy. Granted, it's a lot harder to test a lap time than a 0-60 time, but that's just what it is. If McLaren isn't claiming the fastest lap (even if they have it), then, in my mind, it still belongs to Porsche until video is released of a car doing a better time.

Regardless, it's a great time to be a car guy (or gal).

McLarry > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
12/06/2013 at 13:53

I agree, laps around a circuit tell a much better story than 0-60 and top speed because you have to face a wider variety of conditions...more or less like you say, you can't just make your gears as long or short as possible and have at it, you need to actually set up your car. I would, however, posit that this still doesn't really make 'Ring laps matter in particular, though... The Nordschleife has become the cultural 'de facto' benchmark, but it's pretty arbitrary. Yes, it's long and has everything from hairpins to long straits (and open to the public to boot), but if the Ring were to close (which it seems to be in constant danger of doing), something else would rise up to take its place. We'd all just end up talking about Laguna Seca times or something...

Anyhow, a good benchmark should have an environment that's controllable as possible...In general I prefer Stig laps over 'Ring laps because there's a consistency in the driver (yes I know there are rumors of multiple Stigs, and yeah Perry McCarthy was way slower than Ben Collins). Even so, it always annoys me a bit when the Top Gear guys put a time on the board for a 'wet' lap - couldn't wait until the track was dry? Yeah, yeah you only have the car for a while, etc...this excuse made sense 5 years ago, but now you're friggin' Top Gear! Auto manufacturers will cut slack for the biggest name in auto journalism... Anyhow, I digress.

McLarry > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
12/06/2013 at 14:00

The type of record breaking journey that Ed found himself on has become increasingly more dangerous than any form of Motorsport due to the excessive speed though traffic his team drove without any sort of modern race-inspired protection;if they lost control, they died.

No.

I have a huge issue with this... What'shisface is an asshat, and his record is meaningless. What he did was dangerous and reckless. 'if they lost control, they died' - no really? Along with who else? Whoever's unlucky enough to be commuting to work or driving to visit relatives on the same road? This man is a disgrace to car culture.

Tim (Fractal Footwork) > Joe_Limon
12/06/2013 at 21:32

I just hope no automaker buys it and no longer allows runs, by either other automakers or us.

Tim (Fractal Footwork) > McLarry
12/06/2013 at 21:36

I am personally quite torn on this. I love the fact that people still try to break unbreakable record in the most uncertain and hazardous of conditions, but on the other hand those hazards extend to those outside of the few attempting the record.

Tim (Fractal Footwork) > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
12/06/2013 at 21:40

Strangely enough, I think the Top Gear Test Track is the closest thing we have to a standardized lap comparison. Although, we still have some reason to doubt the fairness .

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Tim (Fractal Footwork) > McLarry
12/06/2013 at 21:43

Oh man, those wet laps bug the hell out of me! Especially when its a really fast car that you want a comparison on, or there's an F1 star in the reasonably priced car.

Joe_Limon > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
12/06/2013 at 22:07

It wouldn't be in there best interest. If you have no competitor numbers, your numbers become worthless.

Tim (Fractal Footwork) > Joe_Limon
12/06/2013 at 22:15

Yeah, If you're someone like VAG you could just make it your own personal test track, but that would be the most over-the-top personal test track ever... ha

Joe_Limon > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
12/06/2013 at 23:14

Have you ever seen videos of the gm proving grounds? They are the stuff my dreams are made of when it comes to testing/tuning. For example a banked circle where you can hold 120mph without touching the steering wheel.

Tim (Fractal Footwork) > Joe_Limon
12/06/2013 at 23:35

No I have not. Sounds awesome.

The only experience I have with secret company-held test tracks is when Top Gear mentions them and therein become not so secret anymore.

McLarry > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
12/07/2013 at 13:13

Seriously! Jenson and Kimi's laps in particular....

d3v > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
12/09/2013 at 23:44

I was about to say that automakers should start using the Top Gear track as another yardstick in place of the 'Ring.