apologies if this is a repost

anyone see the October issue of EVO?

absolutely fantastic write up of independent test of these hypercars on the 'Ring.

(for the EVO bashers on here, the test was NOT commissioned or conducted by Evo, they were only there to cover the event.)

Driver for the test was Marc Basseng, who is a driver for Farnbacher I believe, has done Supercup in the past, and last year set the 'Ring record in a Pagani Zonda, that was held til it was broken by the ZR1.

anyway, cars included in the test were:

- Enzo
- CGT
- Zonda F
- Maserati MC12
- Koenigsegg CCX-R (900HP)

all cars apparently owned by the same guy, prepped & checked by Black Falcon (quite a respected Nurburgring focused Team,) with brand new tires and brakes.

the MC12 was quickest (7:24 and change), thanks mainly to its most race-car like aerodynamics and simpler suspension setup that didn't break down (see Enzo below).

second was the Zonda (7:24 and change)

third was the Enzo (7:25), which was impressive given that the electronic dampers failed, and the laps were completed purely on springs and downforce.

the CGT was second last, which was disappointing, but at 7:28, matched Rohrl's posted time in the car. significantly, it was quickest and had the highest G-loads in many of the corners, but simply didn't have the straightline grunt of some of the other cars.

finally, the Koenigsegg was last at 7:33 or so (sorry, don't have the article in front of me). the car was actually crashed badly during the test, Baseng commenting that the car was just evil to drive compared to the others. Massively faster in the straights, but that just wasn't enough.

anyway, quite an interesting article. i only wish it was longer.

on a side note, i don't have the weight of the Koenigsegg, but i think the power to weight ratio was comfortably better than many of the other cars there... yet it was the slowest car here. which goes to show that power to weight isn't everything-- especially on a long, complex track such as the 'Ring. the Maserati had less power than the Enzo (and I think even the Zonda), while being the same weight or heavier, and yet was quicker or as quick.

 

He Hesperus,

Long time no speak. How is the Philippines? I am thinking of going there for new years. Its been years since I have been back and still have lots of friends in Manila (I went to ISM).

I really can't wait for that issue of EVO. Unfortunately the US gets the magazine one month behind (at least at Barnes and Noble). Whats interesting is that the Enzo did that time with (as you have mentioned), failure of its electronic dampers. I wonder what would have been the time if everything was in working order...

Its also interesting that the Koenigsegg has such a knack for crashing (Top Gear and now the 'Ring). Haven't had the chance to drive one yet, but I checked them out at both the Greenwich and Pebble Beach Concours. Very cool car. For the price though I would prefer the Veyron (got a ride at Pebble Beach).

How is the RT12? Its one of my favorite cars. I hope to get to drive one someday. Funnily enough I may get to drive the CTR3 before the RT12. A friend of mine is ordering one.

Anyhow, I hope all is well.

 

^thanx for the heads up ill be sure to hit up the newstands for the article...i think with working dampers the enzo would have easily grabbed 2nd place maybe even 1st

...i may also be in P.I. late decmeber to early feb...where do the local exotic car guys hang at over there? i heard there was a track or autoX course in Mandaluyong, the only time i got my driving fix was at the local Kart tracks LOL

 

amazing experience I am sure....I am in before the GTR fanboys get in here (ugh!). Pretty impressive with the Enzo having a failure.

 

thanks for sharing! definitely interesting to read. so if the enzo did not experience it's malfunctions, could it have one?

 

I'm looking forward to the article.

Does anyone here in the states subscribe to EVO? I've been thinking about it lately. Do we get the new issues the same time they do over in the UK? Or are subscribers here in the states always a month or more behind, such as you would buy it off the stand at Barnes & Noble?

 

i seem to remember the article saying that yes, if the dampers had not died halfway thru the lap, the car may have gotten the best time outright.

 

And the ACR viper is faster than all of them.

 

Thats not that bad. The MC12 and the Enzo are basically the same with Enzos going for a mil+. The Zonda is not available in the US yet. and the Knoneindasegigeggegaegg cant
be spelled in the US Legally and is slower than the CGT.

SO the CGT is only slower than one car available in the US on the Ring!

 

i wonder if the kzg had the famous "with top gear wing" as the difference on top gear was significant...

 

Yes, and after driving like a crazy lunatic for 7.5 minutes, the CGT crossed the finish 3 seconds behind the Enzo.

It would be fun to watch the race. I'd guess you'd see the others pull the CGT very slightly on the straights, and then the CGT would reel them back in on the curves.

 

No, the difference wasn´t in the wing. The real difference was in the alignment, Koenigsegg had just been testing on the ring and did not have the time to set the alignment back to normal. The second time around they had done that and the laptime was better. Only it was better tv-entertainment to say it was because of the wing...

 

Very cool, go CGT! 600hp vs the others and still that close! Maybe a 700hp version would obliterate them?

BTW, any word on the gumpert apollo? I bet that thing does the ring in 7:15ish.