7:25!!!
I repeat, 7:25....
7:25....
7:25....
It refers to a lap time. And a lap time soo utterly astonishing, it bears repeating....7:25. It is the latest recorded lap time of the new Nissan GT-R V-Spec at the Nurburgring.
Let me give you some history:
The Nurburgring in Germany is comprised of several configurations, most famously the Grand Prix F-1 circuit, and the legendary Nordschleife, a 20.8 kilometer loop. This loop represents the "benchmark test" which every car company on the planet measures it's flagship sports car against. Every major manufacturer tests on this track and it's lap times are compared against that manufacturer's competitors. Countless magazines from all over the world report these results and lap times have as much to do with bragging rights as international sales figures. How you do here means more than any ad, any endorsement, any editorial, and any column.
For YEARS the 8:00 lap time was tantamount to landing on the moon. Production cars couldn't even come close. Then in 1994 (I believe) a Nissan Skyline was said to have broke the 8:00 mark and all hell broke lose. Claims of engine modifications and the use of race-rubber were made, but the word got out that it might/could be done and the literal "race" was on.
Today, some 29 cars have been documented to have broken 8 minutes. The scrutiny is enormous. Their are timing standards to be met, press to record the event, and bystandards to witness the lap time. Here are some times to put 8 minutes into perspective:
Acura NSX 8:38
Porsche Cayman S 8:25
E46 M3 8:22
Audi RS4 8:09
WRX STI Spec C 8:06
Viper GTS 7:59
Ferrari 360 Challenge 7:56
As you can see, we're looking at Supercars now. And more:
Ferrari F430 7:55
Gallardo Supperlaggera 7:46
Murcielago 7:43
C6 Z06 7:42
Ford GT and 997 GT-3 7:42
McClaren SLR 7:41
Koeniggesgg 7:34
997 GT-2 7:32
Carrera GT 7:28
Pagini Zonda F Clubsport 7:27
The later list comprise some expensive machinery, some with plus $500,000 price tag.
So here is the clincher:
Nissan GT-R V-Spec: 7.25
AND, the GT-R is HEAVIER and has LESS HORSEPOWER and cost LESS than any sub 8 minute car!
How the HELL is this possible. It boggles the mind.
No other car in recent memory has stirred such outrage, awe, and incredulity. This past month alone, the GTR has been on the cover of no less than 12 car magazines. All the articles claim utter shock at it's track capabilities. The standard base car (and NOT the V-Spec) has recently been tested by American Road and Track at Buttonwillor Raceway. They pit it against a ZO6 and a 997 TT, ludicrously fast cars with MORE horsepower and, in the case of the Z06, some 600lbs less in weight! No chance you say? Exactly, the GT-R destroyed both cars by over 5 seconds a lap...which in a racing situation might as well be a light year. Needless to say, car enthusiasts the world round have yet to fully digest the car's utter brilliance...as I have. It has so humiliated even the most hallowed names in the Supercar Realm that it will take months for the rest of the world to catch it's breath.
Who knows, with a sports car arms race brewing on the horizon, 7 minutes just might be possible.
7:25....
7:25....
It refers to a lap time. And a lap time soo utterly astonishing, it bears repeating....7:25. It is the latest recorded lap time of the new Nissan GT-R V-Spec at the Nurburgring.
Let me give you some history:
The Nurburgring in Germany is comprised of several configurations, most famously the Grand Prix F-1 circuit, and the legendary Nordschleife, a 20.8 kilometer loop. This loop represents the "benchmark test" which every car company on the planet measures it's flagship sports car against. Every major manufacturer tests on this track and it's lap times are compared against that manufacturer's competitors. Countless magazines from all over the world report these results and lap times have as much to do with bragging rights as international sales figures. How you do here means more than any ad, any endorsement, any editorial, and any column.
For YEARS the 8:00 lap time was tantamount to landing on the moon. Production cars couldn't even come close. Then in 1994 (I believe) a Nissan Skyline was said to have broke the 8:00 mark and all hell broke lose. Claims of engine modifications and the use of race-rubber were made, but the word got out that it might/could be done and the literal "race" was on.
Today, some 29 cars have been documented to have broken 8 minutes. The scrutiny is enormous. Their are timing standards to be met, press to record the event, and bystandards to witness the lap time. Here are some times to put 8 minutes into perspective:
Acura NSX 8:38
Porsche Cayman S 8:25
E46 M3 8:22
Audi RS4 8:09
WRX STI Spec C 8:06
Viper GTS 7:59
Ferrari 360 Challenge 7:56
As you can see, we're looking at Supercars now. And more:
Ferrari F430 7:55
Gallardo Supperlaggera 7:46
Murcielago 7:43
C6 Z06 7:42
Ford GT and 997 GT-3 7:42
McClaren SLR 7:41
Koeniggesgg 7:34
997 GT-2 7:32
Carrera GT 7:28
Pagini Zonda F Clubsport 7:27
The later list comprise some expensive machinery, some with plus $500,000 price tag.
So here is the clincher:
Nissan GT-R V-Spec: 7.25
AND, the GT-R is HEAVIER and has LESS HORSEPOWER and cost LESS than any sub 8 minute car!
How the HELL is this possible. It boggles the mind.
No other car in recent memory has stirred such outrage, awe, and incredulity. This past month alone, the GTR has been on the cover of no less than 12 car magazines. All the articles claim utter shock at it's track capabilities. The standard base car (and NOT the V-Spec) has recently been tested by American Road and Track at Buttonwillor Raceway. They pit it against a ZO6 and a 997 TT, ludicrously fast cars with MORE horsepower and, in the case of the Z06, some 600lbs less in weight! No chance you say? Exactly, the GT-R destroyed both cars by over 5 seconds a lap...which in a racing situation might as well be a light year. Needless to say, car enthusiasts the world round have yet to fully digest the car's utter brilliance...as I have. It has so humiliated even the most hallowed names in the Supercar Realm that it will take months for the rest of the world to catch it's breath.
Who knows, with a sports car arms race brewing on the horizon, 7 minutes just might be possible.
posted by supergoober at
1:30 PM
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