carlsbad

GM better start planning for another run at the Nurburgring. With the LFA posting a time of 7:14.464, The ZR1 and Z06 CE just cant let that go!

Dicecal

Where is this time documented?

carlsbad

wikipedia, and there is a video on youtube

QUIKAG

See below for video link:

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/07/l...age/#continued

QUIKAG

I still am trying to figure out how that car can run a 7:14 on supposedly RE070 Bridgestone tires. It's a modified version of the LFA, but I am really surprised it can crack off that time on those tires.

Either way, it's a very impressive time.

racerns

I does make you wonder as other test of this car have not been that fast. They ran the same version back in june and turned a 7:22 with the same driver. So now what have they done to improve the time by 8 sec? Were the conditions that much better and the driver that much more experienced with the car on that track? I have a hard time believing that there was not some sort of tire difference.

Mr. Gizmo

The Nurburgring is a very large track and times could vary by as much as 8 to 10 seconds on the very same day with the very same car and very same driver. if the drivers underware is bunching up in his crack the wrong way it could make a 3 second difference.

The times on the nurburgring have more to do with the driver than the car.

a driver that is extremely familiar with the track could make a run first in the LFA, and then be right up next in the zr1, and by virtue of the fact he had just been around it in the LFA would give the zr1 an edge on time because the driver is right up fresh and familiar with the track because he just ran in the LFA. Likewise if the Zr1 went first and then the LFA, the LFA would have that edge.

a more accurate measurement of handling and performance as a comparison is to have the same driver drive each car around the track 5 times in row then throw out the best time and throw out the worst time and average the 3 remaining. That would be the true measurement versus a one time bonzai run around the track for superficial bragging rights.

tomsws6

Exp. since it was 2 sec slower than the Z06 at laguna seca with the same driver.. The need for Jan is approaching.....

carlsbad

The LFA shaved of 8 seconds, then the ZR1 can do the same!

gilly6993

7:14 and 7:22 is less than a 2% difference so it's possible.....

KBow_Photo

the entire Nurburgring thing has gotten so old IMHO.

FNBADAZ06

Here's the 'official' video of the run.

Anyway you cut it, that's impressive !!!!

Guibo

Different LFA. That was the slow version. This one is the track version with different suspension, different tires, different aero, slightly more power, faster transmission, and 100kg less weight.

As to how the LFA can be that fast, go watch the two videos side by side. LFA driver has his hands on the wheel at all times. Perfect shifts. No risk of over revving during heel-and-toe downshifts. EVER. 100% comittment into, through, and out of corners. Check especially the section coming out of Hohe Act into Wipperman. The LFA driver stays in the meat of the power band, sliding from apex to apex, and even downshifts between transitions. Mero basically has to ride out on the torque of the ZR1, staying at only 3900-4200 rpm.
The other factor is that the CF frame of the LFA is very stiff, so it allows the suspension to do what it was designed to do without chassis flex muddling the sensory inputs of the driver. Here's Autocar's review explaining how the enhancements improve the driver's confidence:
"You notice the extra grip, but it’s mainly mechanical and down to the new suspension and tyres. The downforce is not the kind that lets you drive upside down; it just makes the car feel more settled on its springs, less tippy-toed into the ’Ring’s many fast, bumpy curves. The extra pace comes in part from the car but mainly from a driver made more confident to push it hard."

The 'Ring is also a momentum track. You'll note that leading up to the jump before Flugplatz, Mero has to get on the brakes hard for the immediate right-hander. The LFA driver brakes much less. And full throttle through the left-hander at the end of the straight where Mero has a bobble or has to lift. He picks up 10 kph where Mero loses 2. These seemingly little details add up over a 7-minute lap.

Totally agree about conditions being a factor. The conditions of the circuit can change by the minute and because it's so large, you can have different conditions throughout various parts of the track simultaneously. The attitude of the driver is also very important. A test driver said that on some days, you think more about going home to family in one piece than others.

Here's Sharif's (Forged Performance) track review of the LFA. Keep in mind this is his first ever track test of the LFA, the car is borrowed from a customer, and it's obviously damp conditions. Not a factory pilot in the company's test vehicle in the dry:
"I still managed a respectable 147mph GPS (155mph indicated) by the breaking zone of T10 which resulted in a 1:37 to 1:38 lap-time. To put this into perspective, a bone stone OEM GT-R would achieve a similar laptime but in the dry and while complaining all the way around the track. There is definitely more in the car, but that was about as fast as I wanted to push a $400K car that that wasn’t mine…on a damp track."
http://www.forgedperformance.com/ind...661&Itemid=159

For reference, factory Corvette racer Ron Fellows drove the Z06 to a 1:37 in bone dry conditions with the GY F1's, and a 1:33 with PS2s.

From the Lexus Global site:
"Dr. Schmidt , the COO of the Nürburgring Automotive GmbH stated, 'For us, it is always very special when a car is developed to meet the needs of the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. It shows us that the Nordschleife still is of particular importance for the automotive industry and that it still radiates a tremendous fascination. Lexus met the challenge Nordschleife by developing the Lexus LFA Nürburgring package. The lap time driven demonstrates impressively that Lexus have done an excellent job in matching the challenges of the track with the needs of an exclusive sports car. This is an outstanding result for Lexus and a reassurance of the excellent work done. We are very delighted by this'."

I think this is only the first or second time that a 'Ring official (an executive, no less) has acknowledged a factory's claim.

PDCjonny

The 2010 Viper ACR is at the 'Ring TODAY, and hopefully will bring the record back to the USA.
Word is it's already done a 7:15 and it's not over yet.

http://bridgetogantry.com/2/index.ph...&Itemid=300053

tomsws6

Thats great. I hope that its the acr and not the x that beats the LFA. If the X beats it, well it doesnt mean much. Then the vette has to run with a Pro so theyll both be ahead of the LFA.

K-TownMike

Jan has never ran the Ring in the ZR1, correct?

C3DeedlyDee

Considering this LFA is the Nurburgring Edition, which has substantial aero-modifications (front splitter + dive planes + fixed rear wing instead of pop-up) and adjustable suspension, it's really no surprise that it improved the laptime so much. The Vette does a helluva job for a car that generates lift at high speed as opposed to downforce like the LFA.

tomsws6

Correct.. Hopefully he'll ball up and take a shot. some say doubtfull but hopefull.

PDCjonny

Word right now is the street legal ACR has run 7:15:6 and not done yet.
The ACR-X is not street legal.

Scratch

Saw a LFA yesterday at a Lexus dealer...badazz looking, but comes with a $387K price tag