The bad line is due to the unavoidable understeer which occurs with the stock measly -0.4 degrees of front camber. Dial it to -1.2 like the stock 997GT3 and the difference is amazing.

 

Porsche doesn't need to be pushed to do anything. The 911 is an evoluton for the last 50 years. Evolution is a slow process. Any car company can start with a clean sheet of paper and design a fast sports car (given the budget of course). That is not the Porsche way when it comes to the 911. I'm sure we'll see a 600hp 911 in the future. In due time my friend. Personally, I don't want to see a turbocharged Cayman. Either way, who cares if the GTR is faster. I still love my Pcars! If I could really buy a GTR for $70k, I would buy one. Strictly as a fun car.

 

perhaps that's true, but the cars should be tested AS IS from the showroom.

if Porsche opted to put conservative susp settings on the car and NOT make R-compounds standard, then that's what you get out of the dealer. Assuming the GT-R in this test is standard (I don't know enough to tell either way; though race buckets in and of themselves don't strike me as a significant performance mod) then it would have been a fair fight, if not for the fact the Turbo's tires are shot.

The GT3 runs 1:03 at Tsukuba, last I remember. That's on R-comps. The car comes with those boots standard, so the test should reflect that. I haven't seen a 997 Turbo break 1:04 at this track. Both those times are very quick-- certainly faster than any JDM has achieved in the past, even the NSX Type-R which everyone seems to think gets an unfair advantage from Best Motoring.

The GT-R ran a 1:01 I think. Its the first stock production car to go that fast around this track, and assuming once again that this GTR was indeed showroom stock, then its impressive.

There are too few objective and independent tests at this point to say for sure which is faster. Nissan claims 7:38 with a pretty flash video that the "fanboys" are crowing about (what's with that term though? sorry but aren't there are P-car, F-car, L-car fanboys, as much as there are NiHondaBishiYata fanboys?). Horst Von Saurma said no way, wringing something like 7:50 out of the car. This Best Motoring vid seems to show the advantage swinging the GTR's way again.

I say bring on all the tests, as right now, these few comparisons are simply datapoints, and the true picture is only starting to emerge. I can't wait until more people get their mitts on the car and do more head to heads. I wouldn't be surprised if the GTR shows it is clearly superior in certain conditions and tracks, while the Porsche is equally better in other situations.

My $0.02, and perhaps worth even less than that

Cheers and peace boys!

 

Agreed

 

Hi Eclou,
How does the TT feel with the GT3 alignment settings?.Does it feel more surefooted on turn in?.I often complain about the 911 having a very floaty feel to it, going through fast sweepers, as though the chassis is moving/bending on the suspension bushes.Would the GT3 settings have any effect on these observations?, regards, SIMON.

 

Simon, the adjustment of the front camber completely transforms the handling dynamics of the car. The 997tt is relatively heavy and this eliminates a lot of the initial "push" or understeer, thereby making the car far more neutral in handling. -1.2 is really very mild for a camber setting. I run almost -3.0 deg front camber on my track car.

 

If he had braked harder before the turn in he would be able to make the turn without pushing wide. Understeer always disappears at slower speeds Since the driver is a professional, I am guessing that the tires or brakes are getting worse on each lap which keeps pushing his ideal braking point further back.

 

True but then the other car just passes him earlier since the GTR has better entry speeds into each turn. He clearly was not taking an aggressive race line to block the GTR either.

 

Great race.
I dont think the power of the GTR can be denied

Germans got the history and glory, the Japanese got the newest technology.

 

....those videos are very funny!!!!
no matter if the race is between an Enzo Vs. Honda Civic always japan cars wins!!!!!

 

amen....

 

I don't think it's a matter of technology.

 

Best Motoring sucks. Japanese cars always win

 

I was thinking of the laps after the GTR passed. The turbo driver's line keeps getting worse and worse and everytime he blows a corner he gets even further behind that he should be.

 

btw that video is not from Best Motoring.....

March issue of Best Motoring is going to feature race on
GTR vs 997GT3 vs 997TT vs NSX-R vs Gallardo SL...

and different GTR than the one they used here (Mine's shop car)

i wish BM gets someone's MT 997TT to use for their race, not the Tip....