Sport Auto supertest: Porsche 997 GT3

[Erik]

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Nurburgring:

With a lap time of 7:48 mins the new 997 GT3 is just one second off the time set with the 996 GT3 RS before. The best time eas achieved not with PASM "Sport" setting hut the basic setup as the damers were not that hard and the car better to control. The PASM "Sport" setting is only suitable for flat tracks like the Hockenheimring.

Hockenheim:

here the new 997 GT3 was 1.5 secs. faster than its 2 years old predeccessor 996 GT3 and even 0.1 secs. faster than the sportier 996 GT3 RS. Tthis due to the progress made in driving dnymamics. The change from light understeer to light oversteer is easy to control, the 996 GT3 offers best handling.

0-200-0 kmh in 18.6 secs

it is hard to find the right grip. it took a dozen of attemps to get used to it and to achive the best time as there is no launch control and the driver has to find the right balance between the clutch and the throttle. The clutch even stand all these attempts.
The shifter of the 997 GT3 is not as easy to handle as of the Carrera S even though the gear shifts are exact and clear.
The cewramic disk brakes allows better breaking and also lasts longer than the standard brakes.

aerodynamic:

the 997 GT is well ballanced with no up- and no downforce at 200 km/h, so the aerodymanic has no influence to the handling at any speed, it si neutral.
Even though the aero package with the front apron and the rear wing, the drag coeffcient is pretty low: Cd = 0.29.


max. lateral acceleration: 1.3g

the new Michelin Cup Sport tyres, not the same as for the M3 CSL at that time, have a different geometry and offer a better wet handling. 1.3 g is not the max. for s supersports car but pretty much enough.
The 997 GT3 is at the same level as the Ford GT, Gallardo and 996 GT3 RS

specs:

3.6-litres flat-6 eingine
415 PS at 7600 rpm
405 Nm at 5500 rpm
115.3 PS/litre

gear ratios, 6-speed manual, limited slip differential, ASR:
1st 3.82
2nd 2.26
3rd 1.64
4th 1.29
5th 1.06
6th 0.92
axle 3.44

tyres:

Michelin Pilut Cup Sport
235/35 ZR 19 in front
305/30 ZR 19 in rear

length/width/height: 4445/1808/1280 mms
wheel base: 2355 mm
track: 1491/1524 mm in front/rear
weight: 1440 kg
power-to-weight ratio: 288.19 PS/ton
weight ditribution: 38.9/61.1% in front/rear

acceleration:
0-100 km/h in 4.3 secs.
0-160 km/h in 9.2 secs.
0-200 km/h in 13.9 secs.
Vmax = 310 km/h

slalom 18m: 71.8 km/h
slalom 36m: 141 km/h, better than the Koenigsegg CCR (138 km/h) and the Zonda F (137 km/h)
evasion test 110m: 158 km/h, same as the CCR, 1 km/h less than the Zonda F and 1 km/h quicker than the M3 CSL or CGT

wet handling:

best time for the 997 GT3, even 0.3 secs. quicker than the Audi RS4 at the wet hnadling track thaksn to the new Michelin Pilot Cup Sport tyres

verdict:

the 997 GT3 is true sports car and takes you into the spell pull. The 3.6-litres flat-6 engine shows its racing heritage. Even though the pursitc 997 GT3 is an every day racer for the experienced driver, not that challenging but less comfortable.

the 997 GT3 is a perfect sports car, it scores 77 pts., more than the CRR (77) and the Zonda F (74), both are more extreme.

the 997 GT3 has set two new records in the sport auto Supertest:
36m slalom and wet handling!

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Compared to old 996 GT3
Hockenheim: 1.13,2 min
Nordschleife: 7.54 min
0 - 100 Km/h 4,6 s
0 - 200 Km/h 14,8 s

[Leadfoot]

Even quicker than a RS4 in the wet, amazing.:MTM:

[Ruergard]

Porsche really knows how to do it! :bow:

Cant wait for the GT2! :hahahehe:

[7:53 RS6]

As i said in rs4 ring time thread, horst is slower than Walter R:D

Walther kick it around in 7,42, and i can promise in these speeds its much, its not easy to shave 6 seconds here, its plenty in these speeds. On the ring its wher you differ boys from men as we knowit.

As well Horst is not pulling more than 1,3 g in GT3 and Walter 1,4, Horst managed 1,4 in CSL.

The cups on new GT3 offering the same grip in dry as old cups, only as mentioned befor, the wet is improved now in the new cups. Its like a normal street tier in the wet. Only not as in accuaplaning situations due to less thread depth.

Still amazed about 360hp CSL in laping 7,50. whit much less rubber in the rear than GT3.

[7:53 RS6]

Heck if old 380hp GT3 got same cups as the new 415hp one, my guess they are pretty even steven, the new is onley a few seconds faster than i would guess. The old was on street tiers for the record..

If new CSL is pretty much even steven whit the old, mine is a keeper, but i guess new CSL(if made)sure its more of a faster car comperd to the old than new GT3 now prowed not to be relly.

Having im mind its getting harder and harder to lap fast, the more potential the cars have. The driver is most likely always the limit nowdays and not the cars.

[Benman]

Originally posted by 7:53 RS6


Still amazed about 360hp CSL in laping 7,50. whit much less rubber in the rear than GT3.

Well, gee... I'm starting to think that Gote is more in love with his CSL than I am with my :rs6kiss: ! :applause:

I mean, considering that the RS 6 weighs over One Thousand Pounds Heavier and "only" has 90 hp more, tested under hotter temp conditions, has a lousy 60/40 weight distribution, a "lazy" automatic compared to the track biased SMG and had regular tires to boot, I'm suprised the CSL ONLY beat it around the Ring by 30 seconds! :applause:

Ben:addict:

[Leadfoot]

Originally posted by 7:53 RS6
Having im mind its getting harder and harder to lap fast, the more potential the cars have. The driver is most likely always the limit nowdays and not the cars.

No one has ever said a truer word.:0:

Maybe we can find the limits on an airfield or a track with plenty of run off area, but on the ring or the road, we are the limity factor, not the cars.

I take that you rate the CSL to have been worth the extra £20K it cost more than the standard M3. Most testers drove it only on the road, maybe that's why they didn't rate it that much better and not worth the difference. Possibly on the track is where the differences show up.

I wish Porsche would built a Cayman RS with 350hp and a LSD. I think it would be hard to beat by either the GT3 or the CSL.

[Clio16V]

Thanks!

But where is the page about the Ring times?

[Hawk]

Nice to see that the m3 can still keep up with newer cars. I can't wait until the new one comes out.:D

[7:53 RS6]

Originally posted by Benman
Well, gee... I'm starting to think that Gote is more in love with his CSL than I am with my :rs6kiss: ! :applause:

I mean, considering that the RS 6 weighs over One Thousand Pounds Heavier and "only" has 90 hp more, tested under hotter temp conditions, has a lousy 60/40 weight distribution, a "lazy" automatic compared to the track biased SMG and had regular tires to boot, I'm suprised the CSL ONLY beat it around the Ring by 30 seconds! :applause:

Ben:addict:

:addict: love as well:hihi: will never forget when the tier blew on my RS6 avant in a bend of camber in 150km/h at the ring. It was not even drama, as RS6 is like a tank, rock solid. I accually drove in to the pits by my self whit a SMASHED right front tier all long straghit on the ring. No worris for RS6. :applause:

[Benman]

Originally posted by 7:53 RS6
:addict: love as well:hihi: will never forget when the tier blew on my RS6 avant in a bend of camber in 150km/h at the ring.

I actually got to see that video! :thumb: Great stuff!:applause:

Ben:addict:

[Leadfoot]

Originally posted by 7:53 RS6
:addict: love as well:hihi: will never forget when the tier blew on my RS6 avant in a bend of camber in 150km/h at the ring. It was not even drama, as RS6 is like a tank, rock solid. I accually drove in to the pits by my self whit a SMASHED right front tier all long straghit on the ring. No worris for RS6. :applause:

Didn't realise that it was you driving in that video, you're some pilot 7:53 RS6 :bow:

P.S. How much quicker are you in the CSL than the RS6.

[7:53 RS6]

Originally posted by Leadfoot
Didn't realise that it was you driving in that video, you're some pilot 7:53 RS6 :bow:

P.S. How much quicker are you in the CSL than the RS6.

Thanks Leadfoot, but when i drove my RS6 Avant in this vid its just a 8.29 min lap Bidge to Gantry(thats the way to take time when touristlaping the track, when you not are alowed to go full lap). And thats not so fast, it would translate in to like 8.55 on the full lap. Horst laps a full lap in 8.20 in the RS6 sedan. So i was like 35 seconds slower at the time, which is like a liftime slower on the ring. I had beter tiers than horst on my car but as he is a so much better driver and i just did go some laps and it was in the Avant i guess it equals out having better tiers. Most likely if driven RS6 there to day i go a bit faster as this was 2004. To bad the tier blew just mid day the first full open day at the ring so i could not go so many laps. Like always especally on a track like the ring you neead some days to get in to it. Like the first day(laps) its often a bit to many confidence lifts on the accelerator, this tends to leave you after some days, whit lower times as a result.
In My CSL i lap as my name is 7.53 BTG, that translated to a full lap is exactly 8.20min, so still im just like 30 seconds slower than Horst in CSL as well. So me in my CSL is as just as fast as Horst is in the RS6 sedan :addict: as CSL is a faster car on the track, it clearly tells Horst is by far a better driver than me of course. Its like always on track, it often dosent matter what car you have, it comes down to the driver if he is capabel to make it go fast or not. As in my case i got 30 seconds to try to shave of in CSL on the ring, it may never work in my lifttime as im just down now and then, or i might shave some of, but nead a roll cage to next year, so i hopfully live if i roll the car.

Maybee could put out my 8.20min full lap in the CSL some day as i got it on film as well, even driving the Gp track at same time. Its much faster than my RS6 vid lap. It so nice to go the full lap on the ring, its not often you get a chance to do it, as its always closed on the regular tourist opening days.

[7:53 RS6]

Originally posted by Benman
I actually got to see that video! :thumb: Great stuff!:applause:

Ben:addict:

Just wright the following at googel.

rs6 at nurburgring

:bye:

[Erik]

Here's the video:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7962212050929574608

For the explosion, try the last part, just click on the last picture.
I like the look of the brake pads, they kind of melted :D :D

Remember it all too well.

Old story: http://www.rs6.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3859&highlight=explosion


Some showing-off for the camea-man (me)

http://www.rs6.com/pics/Various/NS2004/Ringen-20040291.jpg

http://www.rs6.com/forum/attachment.php?s=&postid=25231

[Leadfoot]

7:53 RS6,

When you know the track as well as Horst, you might get a lot closer to his time than you think.

Do you still have the RS6 or have you sold it.

Can just see the For Sale ad.

RS6 low mileage, mint condition, NEVER RACED OR RALLIED, one lady owner.:D

[7:53 RS6]

Originally posted by Leadfoot
7:53 RS6,

When you know the track as well as Horst, you might get a lot closer to his time than you think.

Do you still have the RS6 or have you sold it.

Can just see the For Sale ad.

RS6 low mileage, mint condition, NEVER RACED OR RALLIED, one lady owner.:D

Sold, kind of still miss her, and the sound from the black quattro gmbh system. Accually im sure there is no RS6 in sweden that have been on track as much as mine, still i had no real issues whit the car. The RS6 is very well put togheter and are very solid car. :revs:

[Leadfoot]

Mechanical reliability has always been a strong point of Audi. Just thought of something 7:53 RS6, have you had a go in the new RS4 around the ring. If not I bet you might be looking to swap it for the CSL when you do.

Try the Z4M Coupe, I think you might like what you see.

[Clio16V]

Missing pages:

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