Nurburgring Nordschleife lap record smashed!

[chris g]

OK, you saw Clarkson on Top Gear do a 9.59 there in Jag diesel whilst Sabine in the Ring Taxi regularly does 8.15 with three passengers.......

......well now Radical have done a pretty good production car lap time

One the world’s most prestigious production car records was obliterated yesterday (28/9/05) by Michael Vergers in Radical’s extraordinary SR8. In road legal trim and riding on Dunlop Direnza tyres he lapped the infamous 13-mile Nordschleife circuit in just 6 minutes 55 seconds, knocking a massive 20 seconds off the previous best!

Radical have held the record before when Phil Bennett scorched around the loop in a Radical SR3 Turbo back in 2003, but such is the importance of the record, it soon came under attack from Europe’s biggest manufacturers and engine tuners. However none have got close the magic seven minute barrier. Until now, that is.

A suitably delighted Michael Vergers exclaimed that he still felt there was more to come. “We didn’t have a great deal of time to set the car up for the run and due to the weather closing, in I only really had one crack at it,” he said. “Even on that lap I had to drive around the outside of a Mercedes coming onto the main straight, so there’s plenty more to come. The car is awesome, carrying unbelievable speed through the high speed turns - if we had fitted slick tyres we could knocked more than 30 seconds off this time.”

The Radical SR8 is powered by a 2.6-litre high-revving V8 engine, built in-house by Powertec, developing 360bhp. It generates enough downforce to be able to theoretically drive upside down and holds the outright lap record at Cadwell Park (the UK’s mini-Nurburgring) and has been winning sportscar races around the world since the launch in January this year. For 2006, the SR8 will be the star of the all-new 'Great & British' Motorsport Festivals, visiting all the best UK circuits.

[psbarham]

[HJM]

Pretty impressive stuff - Simon might struggle to take one, even at Combe

When are you coming back Chris - you really have to make the Easter pilgrimage and buy a car - how are the NZ roads and your MR2 ?

[chris g]

Hi HJM

It's a really good lap although such things depend on traffic/conditions and co-operation from others but indicates that the Radical is a really sorted car

Should be back for an Easter Ring trip - car is unknown at this time

MR2 is a fun car to have and some of roads here are lovely twisty things where handling and decent speed combine for a great experience - no straight line pleasures for me

Have done a track day with MR2 and 7G Galant Sports GT at a rain soaked Pukekohe where 4WD and turbo were great but had to be more cautious in the MR2

Will be selling MR2 here but may bring Galant home to UK so may take another VR-4 to the Ring at Easter but the 7G model this time

Will not know about car until next year when we finalise return to the UK

See you at the Ring? - HJM - Spirit - Simon - Jimbo - others ?

Might get a chance to drive you around on a lap and show you how I enjoy the place

Chris

ps already booked my hotel room!

[HJM]

Might get a chance to drive you around on a lap and show you how I enjoy the place

Chris

ps already booked my hotel room!

Look forward to it Chris - we have booked our hotel too

[Jimbo]

If anybody is interested, Phil Bennett was posting a while back on the PistonHeads forum about his SR3 run and also the Donkervort run that beat his time.

The SR3 run was never actually officially acknowledged for some reason, so it would be interesting to see if this amazing SR8 lap is.

On Chris' post, the comment the driver made about doing the lap 30s quicker on slicks is all pretty academic really as it wouldn't then be a road-legal car, however the Donkervoort time was done on curious looking grooved slicks.....and that was an officially recognised time!?! Politics, bah!

Looking forward to seeing you at Easter CG, and you're more than welcome to do a guest appearance at the wheel of an 8G.

[Spirit]

Great new if you can join us Chris........and now officially just 6 months away ! Hopefully this will give me time to sort the remaining issues from RT2

Anyhow, step 1 is complete....stealth camera and recording equipment is live....indeed there may be some footage posted up here tomorrow

[ANTHONY]

sounds like you lot need a season ticket for the ring

[HJM]

sounds like you lot need a season ticket for the ring

Oh no they don't

J

[Spirit]

sounds like you lot need a season ticket for the ring

Season ticket ????? I plan on retiring there mate

What a great way to spend ones retirement, sod golf and all that malarky......just hope it's still open then though

[chris g]

I've had a season tkt for the last four years!

And Pete,what are the issues from RT2?

I sent a PM to you about your experiences but no reply - was it such an issue that you could not bear to speak of the experience?

If poss you can send your full report to me by PM or to hotmail address

Anyway I will see you at Easter!

Chris

[Spirit]

Hi Chris

Sorry mate, I don't recall seeing your PM I wouldn't have ignored it on purpose mate.

There were no issues in running at RT2, just subsequent issues with the car.....abs fault, ayc fault, new discs etc etc......still working through the list now.

Currently the abs/ayc issue should be sorted (got to test drive her today to confirm), new discs will be ordered in the next few weeks, and she is going in for a front end respray this week (black car and stonechips are not a good combo)

[chris g]

The big disc kit has worn out?

So how was it for you at the Nurburgring Nordschleife?

[Spirit]

The big disc kit has worn out?

So how was it for you at the Nurburgring Nordschleife?

Yes mate, too many track days

It's not so bad though....two new discs are £350 so I can live with that

The Ring was 'kin awesome and loved every minute of the adrenaline rush.

The mixture of emotions from nervous excitement, jubilation when you get a sequence of corners spot on, panic as a motorbike blasts past, to simple relief at emerging in one piece the other end, all make for the trip of a lifetime

[The Vee]

See you at the Ring? - HJM - Spirit - Simon - Jimbo - others ?



Chris

!

Others? That'll be me then!
Good to hear from you C, look forward to Easter, oh yes booked in as well. Now who was it that said, nah this place ain't addictive !!

[Jimbo]

Now who was it that said, nah this place ain't addictive !!

Amazing to think we're obsessed with going round what is just a big 13 mile circle. 2 gallons of petrol (or 0.2 for you AL ), 130 mph for 9 or 10 minutes, and we only end up back where we started

Again! Again! Again!

[chris g]

Sorry Vee, did not remember who went on your trip(s) but will be good to see all of you next Easter

After a year away from the place I will be a little rusty but a few laps I should feel back at home again

Are we all booked into the Motorsport Hotel and who is actually confirmed or a possible, a probable or a maybe?

[The Vee]

Jimbo, yep, sad but true

Chris, defo be there

[HJM]

Easter will include all of the previous CVR4 visitors + the 'Usual Suspects' + others who have already shown an interest on here - I reckon realistically 10 cars (a few won't be VR4's )

Not sure I want to come out for a lap with you Chris - I still remember feeling sick as a dog after that 25 minute session at Donnington - what great fun (remember the sliding red MR2 ) and such a useful lesson for me

Roll on Easter

[chris g]

Well it will be good to se quite a few VR-4's out there and other CVR4 people whatever car they drive

From what I hear I am not certain if there will be enough rooms at the inn for all of them

How many are booked already at a hotel? Motorsport

I am prob organising a group rate for ferries if people interested - can email me for details of how we usually work it

And yes it was great fun at Donny - luv that 4 wheel drifting and powering thru bends that are soaking - oh the memories, distant memories

Bring it on at the Ring!

And it will b worth it, I think, if you can force yourself toget into the passengers seat, partic if it's raining or track is wet

More fun than you can shake a stick at!!