Topic: 2011 Porsche GT2 RS is the new 'ring champ

[Mike]

Porsche has regained the top spot.  I am not a Porsche guy, but 620HP from a 3.6L moving only 3050lbs is most impressive.  A 7:18 ring time is also impressive as hell.

Link-> 2011 Porsche GT2 RS

So take my car, times the power by 2.5 and then remove 140lbs 

[PlanB]

Did I not recently read that Porsche wants their new super hybrid halo car the 918 Spyder to be their fastest car?  It boggles the mind that if the GT2 RS can do this......what is the 918 going to be capable of?   Furthermore, I think it is common knowledge that both the Boxter and the Cayman are far better handling cars than anything built off the 911 platform - knowing this, what would these two cars be capable of if Porsche gave their full technological powers to these models?

With VW resources backing up Porsche it seems that the sky is the limit for this little Zuffenhausen company. 

[Turbo Bob]

The Radical SR8 is a production road car and did the 'ring in 6:48 a while ago. So IT still holds the record.

And I know it's raw and is very track focused, but I used to see someone driving to work every day in one in the Summer!

Not that 'ring times actually mean anything, apart from willy waving.

[rrocket]

When I check the records, in the bracket it says "Not a Production Car".  That Radical doesn't have airbags, would flunk many safety tests in most countries, and would be doubtful to pass emissions.  For FIA purposes, most "production" cars have to have 1000 units per year to be Homologated as a production car (this is why the Radical races in the LMP classes).  I know Radical makes fewer than that.  I guess one's definition of "production" really depends.  I think the lines are quite blurred on what's considered a true production car. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%BCrburgring_lap_times#cite_note-0

[Turbo Bob]

Production car rules obviously differ from country to country.

[rrocket]

Production car rules obviously differ from country to country.

For sure, Bob.  You could probably get an F1 car licensed as a street production car in some country.....

[Turbo Bob]

Production car rules obviously differ from country to country.

For sure, Bob.  You could probably get an F1 car licensed as a street production car in some country.....

You're right though, it says "Production Cars", and then "not a production car" right underneath! 

The std SR8 is definitely a production car in the UK, maybe not in Germany, but that shouldn't matter.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_SR8

At the end of the day the team that did it drove to the track and back on normal roads and road tires, through Germany. So it's road legal, and you can buy one.  It may not be road friendly, but it is road legal.  I can't imagine a Viper ACR would be too much fun to drive there and back either, just ask Dave! 

[Railton]

Dave who?
Railton

[rrocket]

The std SR8 is definitely a production car in the UK, maybe not in Germany, but that shouldn't matter.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_SR8

I don't know...I think it does matter..a bit anyways.  Just because a car is "street legal" in some insignificant car market (UK isn't in top 10 of world car markets....they even sell 50% LESS than Canada does!). I don't think it necessarily makes it a "production street legal" car.  I think most of us here have our definition of what a production car is...we sorta know it when we see it type of thing.  And one not requiring real safety certification, safety equipment, crash worthiness, and meeting production numbers for even racing makes it questionable, at best.

But that's not to say the Radical wouldn't kick the crap out of most true production cars.  By all accounts, it certainly does.  I just don't feel it meets any/most of the criteria most would consider as a true production, street legal car.

But what we really want to know is....when you buying one?   

[No H2O]

The Radical SR8 is a production road car...

The Porsche 917 was also a "production" car, but we all know better.

Neither are road cars...or were modified from road cars.

[Turbo Bob]

How can you say it's not a road car hcrv? I have seen them being driven on the road.

I agree that it might not meet your definition, or Canada's, or Germany's, but that doesn't bother me.  I cpuld quite honestly say that there are probably just as many commutes performed in Radical's in the UK as there are in GT2's.

[Turbo Bob]

Dave. Check the Epic Day thread.

[No H2O]

How can you say it's not a road car hcrv? I have seen them being driven on the road.

Some Porsche 917s are on the road as well, but that hardly makes them a production car.

I guess anything that can be driven on the road can be called a "road" car then.

If we put a 917/30 on the ring, nobody would catch up time-wise...ever.

Anyway, nice car. Not too practical; the GT2 may not be either, but I am sure it has good day to day manners, which unlike other exotics, Porsche has always been able to supply their customers.

[No H2O]

I could quite honestly say that there are probably just as many commutes performed in Radical's in the UK as there are in GT2's.

Considering the lack of rain in the UK, I take it it does not need a top. 

[Turbo Bob]

How can you say it's not a road car hcrv? I have seen them being driven on the road.

Some Porsche 917s are on the road as well, but that hardly makes them a production car.

It is a road car end of story, just because you say otherwise doesn't make it so, it's obvious you're not biased.    It can be driven anywhere in Europe, fully MOT'd and insured and on road fuel and road tires.  Get over it.  It is built and sold as a track car that you can drive to the track (like the Atom, which is also a road car) and drive home again, the porker you mentioned is an out and out racing car that can be made road legal, there is a slight difference.

I would agree with RR that they probably don't make enough for it to be considered a production car. But there is a difference between production car and road car, you just twisted what I said above.

But as I said before, 'ring times don't really matter, I don't understand why people get so worked up about them.  I doubt I will ever drive or even know someone that owns a Radical, GT2, Gumpert etc. etc.

[PlanB]

But as I said before, 'ring times don't really matter, I don't understand why people get so worked up about them.  I doubt I will ever drive or even know someone that owns a Radical, GT2, Gumpert etc. etc.

I somewhat see where you are coming from, but at the end of the day the Ring times do actually matter.  There needs to be a bar to which all manufacturers can measure their product by. 

For you to say that Ring times do not matter because you will not drive that type of car or know someone who will does not mean that Ring times are not valid or a very applicable performance indicator of a vehicle. 

[No H2O]

It is a road car end of story, just because you say otherwise doesn't make it so, it's obvious you're not biased.   

And you're not. Where are you from again? 

[No H2O]

But as I said before, 'ring times don't really matter, I don't understand why people get so worked up about them.

Same for 0-60 and 1/4 mile times. Amazingly, some consumers buy their vehicles solely based on those.

[Turbo Bob]

PlanB. I agree in theory, but most manufacturers don't run stock cars, so the results are sometimes misleading.

Hcrv I was just reading down the list and commenting on what I have seen on uk roads.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Just imagine how fast it would have been with the engine in the right place!