vid
175 on the back straight… yummy!
wow that track is insane.
Into a huge headwind, according to GM. And after reviewing the vid, there a several times he is giving up major time. Now, before I get bashed I’m not saying I could do any better. That is such an insane venue and requires giant, brass balls. But he’s too hot in a few sections which puts him a good bit off-line for a turn or two (for example, at ~6:11 he’s frustrated enough w/ his drift to take a hand off the wheel for a bit), and maybe a bit too slow in others. None-the-less it was still an amazing job of driving, especially for a GM engineer as opposed to a pro. But there is NO doubt in my mind a pro with hundreds of or thousands of laps at the 'ring could shave a few seconds off. What a car!
And oh nOes… GTR’s breaking!!!11!!!one!
http://www.nagtroc.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=23273
-TJ
I was just thinking to myself wouldn’t it be great if there was a sync’d up video between the GTR and ZR1 laps…
I mentioned this over on RPA too, but at 1:25-1:28 he’s driving though a corner at 118mph with one hand. Mutherfuckinghugeballs. I know the V-spec of the GTR will start the pissing match all over again. But I have to agree the Vette looks like it leaves some time out there. There are a few turns where he is nowhere near the apex.
Sweet video…both cars are amazing, but I agree you can tell the ZR1 left a little time out there. I am sure it can rip into the low 7:20’s.
So Dodge got the bright idea to run the new Viper ACR around the ring. Mind you the viper comes from the factory with a adjustable suspenion, pilot cup race tires, and wings that actually make downforce. So if it really qualifies as a street car is debateable. But the results are impressive.
7:22
too bad they killed the viper after this year…
I would count it. It is a $12K option…I wonder how many will be produced.
On the Z06 owners vid it says they are both stock but the GTR owner says the Z has a tune and filter?
Heres what the GTR owner had to say.
Hey all
So, the raging debate is, will the GTR stand up to the Z06 in the real world, stock for stock, equal drivers, stock tires. Well I can tell you it can. I went out for a 6th Gear track day at NHMS, a tight 1.57 mile 12 turn road course, the perfect storm for the Z06 with all the V8 low end grunt. FOr a 4000 pound car, no matter if it has AWD or not, a tight technical course is a real equalizer. I was nervous. I did not want to be the first GTR to get its ass handed it it in the real world and on tape. My good friend John (Yellow Z) and Eric (bronze Z) came up to see this thing for real.
The NHMS is a road-oval. An oval NASCAR with a road course built into the infield. I hate these. They are bumpy, beat the car, and with all the tight stuff at this place kills the tires. I honestly thought the Z06 would dominate me, as it is significantly lighter has 505 HP, and can get it down to the ground with huge tires.
Well, I can tell you, that the GTR keeps up just fine. We put the GTR in-between the 2 Z’s and we all were trading spots all day. i had a fantastic time once I figured out how to get this car to keep up. And… The car above 100, does not get pulled. As a matter of fact it pulls on the Z often.
Advantage Z06 - Tight stuff, slower speed corners were i push into the corner and cant get on the throttle. On turn 3 on the uphill the Z can turn in faster, thus eating me on the uphill.
Advantage GTR - The last chicane, were is a high speed sweeper, the GTR can put the power down and pulls the Z on the front strait. Coming out of the bowl turn if I am in 3rd, I can pull the Z coming out of the bowl. It took me a while to figure out i had to shift. I felt I could out brake the Z as well even though I was heavier.
Guys, the GTR is a fine track car, that keeps right up with anything on the track. Eric john and I were the fastest cars on street tires at this event, and EVERYONE was watching. The resounding consensus is that the GTR and Z06 are very much even, and would take a more advanced driver to get more out of both platforms.
I took video, however a lot of the runs with John were not recorded as I ran out of room on my stick. Its too bad as I passed him twice, and he passed me once. We both breathed a sigh of relief that we would not be the once all over the net getting the other once rear end kicked. When I ran wit Eric, I had a Z06 instructor in the car (Gary Hoffamn from Harbar) and was very tentative, but got back on pace and passed Eric at the end. I felt bad, the one C5 Z out with use was commenting that he felt like he was just getting in our way.
The conclusion is the cars are evenly matched. The GTR is not the modern day Delorian like the vette guys seem to be hoping. After a day of 5 hours of track time I drove home, brakes fine, minimal 2mm of bad wear. Rotors were fine, tranny needs a flush (My choice) and another oil change (my choice) but that is it.
From the Z06
Viddler.com - John And Scott 2 - Uploaded by MAZO6
From GTR (this one is like 20+mins)
Viddler.com - NHMS 8/21/08 - Uploaded by ScottsGTR
Just waiting to see the reliability of the GTR. Heard some bad things about the transmission.
I give Dodge mad credit for turning the Viper into such a legit track car. Having driven several I can tell you most of them are a shit show. But the new ACR is amazing.
Every time I see another article about the ACR it just makes me wish GM could do something like that w/ the Z. Leave the motor alone, take 100-200lbs out, give it REAL downforce, put it on coilovers, put some good pads in it, and but some Cup Sports on it and I’d be ALL over it.
-TJ
Meh, interesting read but track day stuff is ALL about the driver.
-TJ
There was a article a few years ago where they pinned a Porsche cup 911 factory racer, and Viper competition coupe, and a few other manufacture based race cars against each other. The Viper held its ground and then some against anything they threw at it. I’m sure back then that might have planted the seed to do the ACR we have now.
I’m sure the GTR or ZR1 would do unholy things also with a real wing and actual tires (cup sports would work). But the truth is unless either one of them man up and do such a thing I don’t see the Viper’s time falling anytime soon. I hope GM isn’t done playing with the ZR1, I heard the motor in it can go a little further so that would be a start. Toss a wing & tires on and go after the Viper. 
Speaking of the Ring. Did anyone read on autoblog about Lexus basically pulling the plug on their LF-A supercar? Rumor was they were having trouble trying to get their car to keep pace with the times the GTR & ZR1 were throwing out. So they are just going to use the car for development purposes rather than production.