TOP GEAR's STIG R8 Test

[Ti-Mike]

Few days a go TOP GEAR's "STIG" has tested the R8.
From my point of few the test's are a good reference, because always the same track and driver.
R8 Time:
1'24.2 that would be rank 18

Check the TOP 50 .

1 Koenigsegg CCX (with TG spoiler) 1.17.6
2 Pagani Zonda F 1.18.4
3 Maserati MC12 1.18.9
4 Ferrari Enzo 1.19.0
5 Ariel Atom 1.19.5
6 Porsche Carrera GT 1.19.8
7 Koenigsegg CCX 1.20.4
8 Ascari KZ1 1.20.7
9 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 1.20.9
10 Ford GT 1.21.9
11 Porsche GT3 RS 1.22.3
12 Ferrari 360 CS 1.22.3
13 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 1.22.4
14 Lamborghini Murcielago 1.23.7
15 Pagani Zonda 1.23.8
16 Noble M15 1.23.9
17 Koenigsegg 1.23.9
18 Prodrive P2 1.24.3
19 TVR Sagaris 1.24.6
20 TVR Tuscan 1.24.8
21 Mitsubishi Evo FQ 400 1.24.8
22 Noble 1.25.0
23 Lotus Exige S 1.25.1
24 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder 1.25.7
25 Lamborghini Gallardo 1.25.8
26 Morgan Aero 8 GTN 1.25.9
27 BMW Z4 M 1.26.0
28 BMW M5 1.26.2
29 Porsche Cayman 1.26.2
30 Ferrari 575 GTC 1.26.8
31 Chevrolet Corvette 1.26.8
32 Mercedes-Benz CLS 55 AMG 1.26.9
33 Lotus Exige 1.26.9
34 Porsche 911 GT3 1.27.2
35 Spyker C8 1.27.3
36 TVR 350C 1.27.5
37 Wiesmann 1.27.9
38 BMW M3 CSL 1.28.0
39 Marcos TSO GT2 1.28.2
40 Dodge Viper SRT-10 1.28.5
41 MG SV 1.28.6
42 Mitsubishi Evo VIII 1.28.9
43 Porsche 911 Carrera S 1.28.9
44 Mercedes-Benz CL65 1.29
45 BMW Alpina Z8 1.29.0
46 Subaru Impreza STi WRX WR1 1.29.4
47 Alfa Romeo 3.7 GTA 1.30.0
48 Vauxhall Monaro VXR 1.30.1
49 Subaru Impreza STI 1.30.1
50 Volkswagen Golf R32 1.30.4

[The RS6]

Are you sure about that 1'24.2? Clarkson one said the RS4 did 1'25 so I'd expect the R8 to be more than 0.8 faster...

[Z07]

The FQ-400 only did 1m24.8s so 1min24.2s is very decent.

[Leadfoot]

Few days a go TOP GEAR's "STIG" has tested the R8.
From my point of few the test's are a good reference, because always the same track and driver.
R8 Time:
1'24.2 that would be rank 18

Oh mate you don't know how wrong you are on that one. There is numerous 'Stigs' but to be fair with you they all are of a very high calibre, F2, F3, LeMans Series drivers etc. The only one I know who doesn't have this calibre of Motorsport success in Sabine Schmitz but then again she might have, I just don't know.

The number 18 sounds bad but when you look at what beat it with the exception of the rack-based GT3RS and 360CS all the rest at really Hypercars. A good result if you ask me.

[Z07]

Oh mate you don't know how wrong you are on that one. There is numerous 'Stigs' but to be fair with you they all are of a very high calibre, F2, F3, LeMans Series drivers etc. The only one I know who doesn't have this calibre of Motorsport success in Sabine Schmitz but then again she might have, I just don't know.

The number 18 sounds bad but when you look at what beat it with the exception of the rack-based GT3RS and 360CS all the rest at really Hypercars. A good result if you ask me.

My thoughts exactly.

On the above - whether the track is wet or not can also influence times.

[Cargo8]

Although I too put faith in Top Gear's tests and find them entertaining, the stig is definitely not ONE person. That is the reason that they constantly uphold the joke of the Stig not talking in the show, it is to hide the fact that they get different drivers to do the driving, not one guy.

[Leadfoot]

The 'Stig' may be more than one person but trust me when I say they are of the highest calibre, I know one of them personally and I only wished I could drive as good and I am not bad at all.

P.S.

Don't ask me who to is as I am sworn to secrecy and if I told you all I would have to kill you.

SORRY.

[Speedou]

I believe that all the drivers are very good. But somehow don't give too much respect those numbers anyway. Top Gear is to me only funniest car show. Never anything when comparing cars.

[Leadfoot]

Lap times are very subjective, unless they are carried out on the same track within a pretty tight time window they can't be regarded anything other than interesting.

The only tests I see that are more than just interesting are the ones like FifthGear did with the 335i vs S5 and TopGear did with the S4 vs M3 and R32 vs 130i, all were carried out in that tight time window as I mentioned.

This time that the R8 did was to the best on that day, that's all.

[Mori]

Can someone post a link or confirm the RS4 time of 1.25?

[+44 Dave]

R8 is on tonights Topgear against the 911 4S power pack i think. Will be interesting. I know that Clarkson loves the R8 and feels ripped off to have paid loads more for a Gallardo when he feels the R8 is better in many ways
I will be tuning in at 8 o'clock for one !

[Leadfoot]

Can someone post a link or confirm the RS4 time of 1.25?

Hi Mori,

This is the link to the lap time of the RS4 but he said 1:25?, over a second quicker than a Cayman S which posted 1:26.2 on the day.

RS4_part2

[Leadfoot]

Just watched the latest TOPGEAR episode with the R8 and the 997Carrera S and their respective lap times in the hands of the Stig. Well it was damp which explains the reasons for the slow laps each achieved.

11 Porsche GT3 RS 1.22.3
12 Ferrari 360 CS 1.22.3
13 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 1.22.4
14 Lamborghini Murcielago 1.23.7
15 Pagani Zonda 1.23.8
16 Noble M15 1.23.9
17 Koenigsegg 1.23.9
18 R8 1.24.4

When you consider that all of the above cars which are ahead of the R8 achieved their laps in the dry it does explain what an amazing well balanced car the R8 is. Though I don't think it would be 2 seconds quicker on a totally dry track, I do think the between 1.2~1.5 seconds is very believable.

Audi R8 = RESPECT

[HKS786]

Just watched the latest TOPGEAR episode with the R8 and the 997Carrera S and their respective lap times in the hands of the Stig. Well it was damp which explains the reasons for the slow laps each achieved.

11 Porsche GT3 RS 1.22.3
12 Ferrari 360 CS 1.22.3
13 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 1.22.4
14 Lamborghini Murcielago 1.23.7
15 Pagani Zonda 1.23.8
16 Noble M15 1.23.9
17 Koenigsegg 1.23.9
18 R8 1.24.4

When you consider that all of the above cars which are ahead of the R8 achieved their laps in the dry it does explain what an amazing well balanced car the R8 is. Though I don't think it would be 2 seconds quicker on a totally dry track, I do think the between 1.2~1.5 seconds is very believable.

Audi R8 = RESPECT

I missed the 2nd episode of Topgear! grrrrrr! thanks for that. wow the R8 done so good! not just performance, but consider the price. Look at the price of everything above the Audi!

[Leadfoot]

Never mind mate, it will be on Youtube soon no doubt. The big surprise was the Carrera S was quicker in a 1/2mile drag race, that was something I didn't reckon on.

[HKS786]

Never mind mate, it will be on Youtube soon no doubt. The big surprise was the Carrera S was quicker in a 1/2mile drag race, that was something I didn't reckon on.

Yeah true. Must be the weight advantage?

[HKS786]

I just seen the 1/2 mile drag. The Porsche barely won, so its not that bad. The R8 was much more balanced around the track and therefore won overall

Edit:

I think Jeremy will be really annoyed when he does get his Gallardo spyder. The R8 was 1.4 secs quicker than the Gallardo and 1.3 secs quicker than the Spyder. Not to mention that the track was damp too...

The R8 was faster than: Sagaris, Tuscan, Evo FQ400, Exige S, Gallardo, Gallardo Spyder, Z4 M, M5, M3 CSL etc. Very good result! Look at everything ahead of it, more expensive and powerfull!

[guessWHO]

a question for Leeadfoot even if it's off-topic. AMD Technics ? what's that ? do you have pics with your s5 ?