Celebrity auto journalist extraordinaire Chris Harris was pretty smug towards Lamborghini at the Geneva Auto Show earlier this year:
You can't argue with Harris' second point. Fair to say the vast majority of Lambos are owned by a very specific type. But then, you could make that argument with any supercar couldn't you?
For every Manuma there are a thousand Lambo kids and whole publications are dedicated to Supercar fail schadenfreude.
But the inherent understeer thing? I think the video of a new Aventador lapping the ring sub-7 minutes clearly calls bull on that.
If your Lambo understeers it's probably due to the sheer weight of all the gold chains messing with the balance. Remove gold, get a proper alignment and this becomes possible:
You want a more detailed analysis of the Lambo's lap? Head over to BTG and read it from the local experts.
Production car laps times are not impressive because manufacturers can build to whatever spec they want. They do not follow a GT3 or F1 style rule book. Manufacturers can add as much HP and grip as they see fit, so long as it passes emissions and safety requirements. They can basically reverse engineer cars to lap the Ring at whatever time they want. Comparing lap times of any two cars is akin to comparing apples and oranges.
ReplyDeleteBottom line, do you really expect anything less than a sub 7 minute lap from a 750hp AWD carbon fiber mid-engine super car running P zero corsas on pushrod suspension? All it's missing is DRS for the straights.
Was not aware. Odd.
ReplyDeleteJust heard that it's the standard cause it's speed limited there anyway, due to the crossing to the Office Buildings, GP track etc. May not be 100% accurate but it's an explanation.
ReplyDeleteThat was electrifying.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Damn I would love to have a Quote :D
ReplyDelete"There is a lot going for the current regs if they could just look past the immediate hoo-ha about engine noise and whatnot. From a design standpoint, there are dozens of points where overall philosophy on power management can vary between manufacturers"
But this is the problem, even McLaren stated. you are not going to beat Merc with being a customer .. the only way is to be a first partner like they did with Honda and what RBR is doing with Renault.
I don't care about the sound.. bring 1000 cc car with a huge blower and electric engine... I'm fine as you are in the Limited BHP, hell even if they want to use diesel, ethanol. Let them use Flat engines, V in 120°.
This was what made the F1 great in the past, it was a team and drivers championship... the pinnacle of technology. This is what allowed in the past renault to introduce the 1977 the first turbo with V6 1.5 liter car... .EVERYONE looked at them.. like WTF?!?!?
Why this can't happen today?
Regarding downforce... yes I do to will love to have something that will replace the wing with some less turbulent but again with the current reg you will never have someone like Colin Chapman, Ken Tyrrel or Frank W..
Maybe you can say that Adrian Newey is that last of that breed. I should add James Allison with his cars being good to the tires... But maybe this is consequence of the current tire regulations.
I wouldn't call them arbitrary. I'm not advocating that rules be put in place BUT they would provide context for gauging performance.
ReplyDeleteMcLaren made a promo video about their sub 7 lap with the P1. They just decided not to post the actual lap or official time, which is weak. Has their sub 7 lap since been overturned?
ReplyDeletevideo: https://youtu.be/NnFQG51yFMc
No video, didn't happen
ReplyDeleteIf you want to know why historically they used those timing spots shoot Dale at BTG an email. I think it probably has to do with coming in and out of that old pit area.
ReplyDeleteWell it wasn't missed by me :)
ReplyDeleteBe careful about not falling into Bernie's trap and just shit on the engines because they don't make noise. WEC engine sound like dogs hit too yet everyone is raving...
ReplyDeleteIdeally that's great, In reality I wonder who would take up that challenge igiven the kind of investment needed.
ReplyDeleteMan that dashboard looks ugly..
ReplyDeleteBut the way he is checking all oil temp.. all the time!
the picture was used for dramatic effect, Fuel fires were indeed rare in that era. but the point is the schitzo nature of F1: cost cutting on one side while introducing refueling at the same time. You remember all the stuff father went along with that: Chilled fuels, modified rigs....
ReplyDeleteBut the problem here is we are talking about the sound !?!? let's talk about the performance.. the car 1961 to 67 they did not sound good!! they where 1.5 liters. But there where free to use those 1.5 whenever they want..
ReplyDeleteIF you want v12 a v10 a v8 or v6 you can... if you want to strap two 1.5 l iters engines together to have the 3.0 liter engine for the 1967, you can!
Look like Bearnie wants to run like they did on 70's with all DFV engines and maybe a Matra and a Ferrari.
That is the problem to me.. LET the engineers create or imagine things.
BTW this does not sound bad:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUFH60cqn40
true, but like DC pointed out in latest article in BBC, that single thing will solve so many current issues that i mentioned in my post above, if thats true, cost-cutting is not paramount IMO. FIA can standardize fuel equipment and control to close all loop holes.
ReplyDeleteHaving smaller taks would make cars faster,but do you remember all that nonsense about about starting and qualifying fuel loads there used to be?
ReplyDeletethats all strategy and all other series deal with it fine, all i see is 2 teams way ahead in the front and only way to mix it up is by fuel n tire strategies. i also remember from 2004 we had more than 1 team competing for championships, in non-refueling era except 2010 we've had one team dominating in front. Last time it was banned coz lack of overtaking on track i hated it then, but with DRS+ERS overtaking is not going to be problem. I think they should give it a try instead of leaving it in current state esp that pathetic engine noise :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a load of rubbish. The facts Harris highlighted are what they are. Lamborghini might have a better and faster car witht SV, but it doesn't change anything about the horrid steering of the Huracan, the general shoddy feel of the Aventador and so on. It has nothing to do with gold chains, and a possibly massaged SV. Chris Harris has not had to eat his words, nor does the SV change the image of Lamborghini.
ReplyDeleteYou would have to be a bit silly (or a porsche fanboy) to believe it didn't go sub-7 minutes, considering the P1 went round Spa a full 10 seconds faster than the 918, and at COTA the difference was over 20 seconds (The 918 was slower than the huracan). The 918 also couldn't complete more than one lap at a time at that pace. That difference would only be amplified at the Ring. It also blew the No one outside Mclaren and a few owners know the time, but from what Mclaren have hinted and admitted it is in the 6:33-6:45 range. The constant putting down of Mclaren for not releasing the time is frankly clutching at straws at this point.
ReplyDelete