Mclaren MP4-12C vs Ferrari 458, Round 2: D'OH!

Spring must be Supercar test time in the UK. CAR pits the McLaren versus the Ferrari 458, Porsche GT2 RS, Mercedes SLS, Audi R8 V10 and Lamborghini LP 670-4 PS. This is the way all tests should be, BTW, Same track, same day, same driver, in this case, the ex-Stig Ben Collins.

SLS 1:33.1
Audi: 1:31.06
McLaren: 1:30.1
Lambo: 1:29.92
GT2 RS: 1:28.78
458 Italia:1:28.30

In the video, tires are not specified save for the Porsche GT2 RS' standard Michelin Sport Cup which makes the Ferrari time that much more remarkable. Also, you can't turn traction control fully off on the 12c, really?

As you can see at the end of the video, Mclaren claimed there was a mechanical issue with the car tested and later returned to the same track with their chief test driver and a presumably perfect MP4 12c fitted with optional Pirelli Corsa.

Their time? 1:28.0 ....D'oh!

It's all in the July Issue of CAR

Ouch.

CAR sneaks a GT-R

Since we are on such a GT-R roll, here is CAR's video of their Nissan vs Porsche 997 TT shootout.

I'm not sure how their claim of having the first GT-R in the UK squares with the Autocar video released earlier in the month (I guess they had the first white one?) but I will give them marks for using telemetry, real time wireless data recorders none the less, nice! Can we see the full data?

Watching the video, I hope they edited in slides for dramatic effect because there is no way driving any car that sideways yields the best possible times.

This might also remind you of the kind of talent Tiff Needell has as a TV presenter and driver...

In this month's issue, CAR has the full article with the BMW e92 M3 and the Audi R8 compared as well. Quite interesting, for the M3, not one complaint about brakes!