[wakespeak]

Why wouldn't they just change where the spectators are allowed? Otherwise a better restriction might be horsepower or horsepower/weight like what is done now for NASCAR, Formula 1, etc.

I really liked the new focus on track times to get us some refined production cars. Having a standard like the ring allowed for easy relative comparisons across makes. Sort of an SAT for cars.

Magazines are using VIR and other tracks as benchmarks, so all is not lost.

[Silverlsinva]

I guess its time to Retire the Ring times and find another good track to test and tune on and hopefully catch on. I vote VIR or COTA as Laguna Seca is too small IMO. I Know that Motortrend uses it for their Best drivers cars segments but it doesnt benefit High Hp cars for its small straight. Sad that they banned Lap times and its seems a bit fishy to do it before a smaller manufacter trys to attempt it and will prolly beat it. Also setting a speed limit at a race track is dumb. Its called Improve safety of the track. We need a billionare to buy it and upgrade it.

[Stingray]

I vote that manufacturers pick one of the most challenging and best F1 tracks to date... to do their fastest lap times. Top 3 IMO is:

1) Suzuka (Japan)

2) Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium)

3) Silverstone (England)

[crysalis_01]

There are plenty to choose from.

[truth411]

Hmmmm, where is the C7 Z06 laptime?

[Stingray]

Originally Posted by truth411

Hmmmm, where is the C7 Z06 laptime?

Trending today...

From: http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...ng-time-rumor/

Rumor: The Corvette Z06 Ran the Nurburgring in 7:08 Can it be true?

The 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is fast. Very fast. Very, very, very fast. But many won't say that it's biblically fast until a time around the Nurburgring is made public.

Earlier this year, it was rumored that the Z06 had gone around the 'Ring in less than seven minutes. That was quickly debunked as a rumor and not the real time. Now, Autoweek is reporting that the Z06 has made its Nurburgring run and set a time of 7:08. The problem is that Chevy can't release the time thanks to the current ban on Nurburgring lap records.

Autoweek hasn't named their source, but they say their source spends a lot of time and money at the Nurburgring. We've requested comment from a source at General Motors and are yet to hear back. We'll update as we hear more.

---

From: http://autoweek.com/article/car-news...08-nurburgring

BAN ON RECORD ATTEMPTS KEEPS CHEVROLET QUIET FOR NOW

At the Goodwood Festival of Speed, I bumped into a guy who spends a ton of time (and money) at the Nurburgring. During a wide-ranging conversation with me and an another automotive journalist, he mentioned that Chevrolet had somewhat recently made a timed run at the Nurburgring Nordschleife in the 2015 Corvette Z06 with the Z07 package. The time was reportedly something like 7:08, which would place the most potent street-spec Corvette within a second of the 2015 Nissan GT-R Nismo on the unofficial leaderboard. For those keeping score, that would place it behind a couple of Radicals, the Porsche 918 Spyder and the Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce and possibly the Nissan for the overall record. Not bad.

According to our source, the Nurburgring's ban on "official" record attempts has kept Chevrolet from announcing a time. Earlier this year, Chevy personnel claimed that they’d attempted a ‘Ring run with the Z06, but if memory serves, they were forced to scuttle the effort due to inclement weather. There’s some forum chatter that supports the 7:08 number, but nothing credible. We asked Chevrolet for a comment this morning, but until the Nurburgring lifts its ban on manufacturers publicizing lap times, don't hold your breath on a confirmation.

[GretchenGotGrowl]

Originally Posted by Stingray

Trending today...

From: http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...ng-time-rumor/

Rumor: The Corvette Z06 Ran the Nurburgring in 7:08 Can it be true?

The 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is fast. Very fast. Very, very, very fast. But many won't say that it's biblically fast until a time around the Nurburgring is made public.

Earlier this year, it was rumored that the Z06 had gone around the 'Ring in less than seven minutes. That was quickly debunked as a rumor and not the real time. Now, Autoweek is reporting that the Z06 has made its Nurburgring run and set a time of 7:08. The problem is that Chevy can't release the time thanks to the current ban on Nurburgring lap records.

Autoweek hasn't named their source, but they say their source spends a lot of time and money at the Nurburgring. We've requested comment from a source at General Motors and are yet to hear back. We'll update as we hear more.

---

From: http://autoweek.com/article/car-news...08-nurburgring

BAN ON RECORD ATTEMPTS KEEPS CHEVROLET QUIET FOR NOW

At the Goodwood Festival of Speed, I bumped into a guy who spends a ton of time (and money) at the Nurburgring. During a wide-ranging conversation with me and an another automotive journalist, he mentioned that Chevrolet had somewhat recently made a timed run at the Nurburgring Nordschleife in the 2015 Corvette Z06 with the Z07 package. The time was reportedly something like 7:08, which would place the most potent street-spec Corvette within a second of the 2015 Nissan GT-R Nismo on the unofficial leaderboard. For those keeping score, that would place it behind a couple of Radicals, the Porsche 918 Spyder and the Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce and possibly the Nissan for the overall record. Not bad.

According to our source, the Nurburgring's ban on "official" record attempts has kept Chevrolet from announcing a time. Earlier this year, Chevy personnel claimed that they’d attempted a ‘Ring run with the Z06, but if memory serves, they were forced to scuttle the effort due to inclement weather. There’s some forum chatter that supports the 7:08 number, but nothing credible. We asked Chevrolet for a comment this morning, but until the Nurburgring lifts its ban on manufacturers publicizing lap times, don't hold your breath on a confirmation.

Seems odd that they wouldn't release the times for runs that occurred before the ban was put it place. I guess we just have to wait until Tadge says something to know for sure.

[Stingray]

The latest 'Ring mishap... a major one too! Not during a race but during an open track session I believe.

From YT: Renault Megane RS rolls filmed from a 200 SX with RB20. This was in excess of a 120 MPH! Driver reported ok :-)

[GretchenGotGrowl]

Dang. Glad the driver is okay. Says a lot about the safety of new cars. At the same time it may bode ill when it comes to removing the ban anytime soon. Rumor was they planned to start some modifications in November that would lead to a lifting in March.

[Denis]

saw that video last night. Hard to believe the driver was alright. glad they were though.

[Red2014SS]

The racetrack has a speed limit, but the highway doesn't? Only in Europe. Simple solution... ban spectators from dangerous areas. Put up a fence to keep them out. Either that or ditch the Ring and use a different track for testing.

I also noticed in the video above (Stingrays post) - the driver gets out and runs to the crash. He either had no helmet on or he removed it in world record time.. Are there no requirements for safety equipment?

[Denis]

there's a video Top Gear did of them racing that transit van around the ring, if I remember correctly the woman driving it wasn't wearing a helmet.

found it

[GretchenGotGrowl]

Originally Posted by Red2014SS

The racetrack has a speed limit, but the highway doesn't? Only in Europe. Simple solution... ban spectators from dangerous areas. Put up a fence to keep them out. Either that or ditch the Ring and use a different track for testing.

I also noticed in the video above (Stingrays post) - the driver gets out and runs to the crash. He either had no helmet on or he removed it in world record time.. Are there no requirements for safety equipment?

Since the crash in March that lead to the ban they have added safety barriers, moved some fences further from the road and banned spectators in a few places. That's in addition to the speed limit changes. They plan to resurface some areas and maybe change the approach to some hilly places. After all those changes they had planned to lift the new speed limits and allow top-speed runs again (rumor has it). There's not much else they can do to the "track" (it is actually a toll road that can be used for racing).

However, it would be nice if they required more safety equipment in the cars and on the drivers. Most car manufactures require cages and helmets, but that doesn't appear to be a "track" requirement.

[BMR Sales]

Originally Posted by Stingray

The latest 'Ring mishap... a major one too! Not during a race but during an open track session I believe.

From YT: Renault Megane RS rolls filmed from a 200 SX with RB20. This was in excess of a 120 MPH! Driver reported ok :-)

I'm amazed they don't require Helmets!