[ANSWERED] Track performance GS MRC vs Z51 with T1 Suspension
12-09-2016, 01:18 PM
#1
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[ANSWERED] Track performance GS MRC vs Z51 with T1 Suspension
The original question is here.
C7fasttoy asked:
I would be interested to know in between GS non Z07 and Z51 with T1 suspension which would have better track performance assuming both using same tire despite the fact GS has some advantage due wider tires.
I would be interested to know in between GS non Z07 and Z51 with T1 suspension which would have better track performance assuming both using same tire despite the fact GS has some advantage due wider tires.
Tadge answered:
The short answer to the specific question asked is, “The standard Grand Sport and the Stingray fitted with T1 hardware would be expected to have very similar capability on the track”.
But you were probably hoping for more than that.
Since the packages were developed independently of each other and at different times by different engineers we don’t have a lot of direct comparison data. Ideally we would run both cars on the same track on the same day with the same driver. The data we have is from our on-site Milford road course – a track few customers will ever drive. The T1 package was developed around the SCCA spec tire, the Hoosier A6. Since the tire was the starting point for chassis development, we had to optimize the rest of the components around the performance of that tire. The best solution included a very large stabilizer bar on the front and in the rear we used the same bar we would eventually spec on the Grand Sport. This bar combo gave us the roll gradient we wanted and very balanced handling at the limit. We wanted to make sure the cars had performance accessible to many drivers.
There is a question in the thread wondering why higher spring rates were not specified. We looked at that, but found no significant performance benefit, and in fact, are within 10 % of the C6 T1 spec (front slightly softer, rear slightly stiffer). Shock tuning migrated towards calibrations we loved on the track in development work for the Stingray Z51, but were not put in productions because the street ride was considered too harsh for most customers.
OK, how about some numbers…. Well, here is the best we have. On our track a Stingray Z51 has run a 1:56.3. With the T1 package we have a time of 1:53.9, an almost 2.5 second improvement. To be honest, we didn’t put huge energy into setting the fastest possible time on a track that is not comparable to others, so there could be a few more tenths in it. Ditto the standard Grand Sport – the times are right in that range, but we spent most of our track time with the Z07 package. Our best time with that set up is 1:52.6.
The short answer to the specific question asked is, “The standard Grand Sport and the Stingray fitted with T1 hardware would be expected to have very similar capability on the track”.
But you were probably hoping for more than that.
Since the packages were developed independently of each other and at different times by different engineers we don’t have a lot of direct comparison data. Ideally we would run both cars on the same track on the same day with the same driver. The data we have is from our on-site Milford road course – a track few customers will ever drive. The T1 package was developed around the SCCA spec tire, the Hoosier A6. Since the tire was the starting point for chassis development, we had to optimize the rest of the components around the performance of that tire. The best solution included a very large stabilizer bar on the front and in the rear we used the same bar we would eventually spec on the Grand Sport. This bar combo gave us the roll gradient we wanted and very balanced handling at the limit. We wanted to make sure the cars had performance accessible to many drivers.
There is a question in the thread wondering why higher spring rates were not specified. We looked at that, but found no significant performance benefit, and in fact, are within 10 % of the C6 T1 spec (front slightly softer, rear slightly stiffer). Shock tuning migrated towards calibrations we loved on the track in development work for the Stingray Z51, but were not put in productions because the street ride was considered too harsh for most customers.
OK, how about some numbers…. Well, here is the best we have. On our track a Stingray Z51 has run a 1:56.3. With the T1 package we have a time of 1:53.9, an almost 2.5 second improvement. To be honest, we didn’t put huge energy into setting the fastest possible time on a track that is not comparable to others, so there could be a few more tenths in it. Ditto the standard Grand Sport – the times are right in that range, but we spent most of our track time with the Z07 package. Our best time with that set up is 1:52.6.
The following 11 users liked this post by jvp:
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12-09-2016, 07:08 PM
#2
Melting Slicks
Interesting stuff, thanks Tadge. I guess the takeaway is that the base GS runs approximately the same as a Stingray Z51 w/ T1 package, and adding the Z07 package to a GS makes the car a bit more competitive, although not a ton better.
12-09-2016, 07:39 PM
#3
Racer
Is the T1 suspension on the Z51 the Magnetic Selective Ride Control or something else altogether?
12-30-2016, 08:01 PM
#6
Le Mans Master
We really have no understanding for what the suspension does.
01-30-2017, 05:31 PM
#7
1st Gear
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Corvette has jumping, popping, thumping and grinding noises
The original question is here.