VIDEO: Garage419 split-screens the ZR-1 and GT-R 'Ring laps
The Nurburgring is the most famous and grueling track on the planet. In the past, the 'Ring didn't get much attention aside from track day hoons and the occasional manufacturer test, but lately the big test has been to get around the circuit with the best time possible. Nissan's GT-R lapped the 'Ring in a stunning 7:29:03, which blew the doors off of vehicles costing four-times as much. The 638 hp Corvette ZR1 became the new Nordschleife leader with a 7:26.4 time, but talk about the actual start time of both vehicles has kept message boards and our comments section popping.
The guys over at Garage419 settled the question by syncing up the two videos at the pit exit sign and playing them side by side. They also provided a single master timer to ensure that the times are as accurate as possible. Hit the jump to view both laps at the same time. It's fun to see which vehicle handles curves and strait-aways better, and a clear winner is established.
[Source: Garage419]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 10)
AcuraFanBoy 12:37PM (7/11/2008)
...until the spec-V is unleashed!
Reply
Vintage 12:40PM (7/11/2008)
True. Z06 to GTR would be a more accurate comparison in terms of price. Top tier Vette (ZR1) vs Top Tier GTR (Vspec) would be a better choice.
nastinupe1 12:52PM (7/11/2008)
It's clear that the GT-R was quicker in the turns and the ZR-1 was faster in the straights. I could see where each car was taking the lead. If it wasn't for the long straight, the GT-R would have won. The ZR-1 is just faster.
Proud Japanese 1:01PM (7/11/2008)
Just look at how well the GT-R corners and handles. The ZR1 looks very bad around the corners. What GT-R loses down the straights it more than easily gains in the corners. So with around 200hp advantage the ZR1 can only eek out a 3 second gap. Not impressive at all. I can't wait for the V-Spec to come out and rape the ZR1.
John R 1:10PM (7/11/2008)
^^^ Eeek! That didn't take long
why not the LS2LS7? 1:17PM (7/11/2008)
That's funny. I was going to say if it weren't for the corners, the ZR1 would have won by more. The ZR1 is just faster.
Fast contains multiple components. In this particular comparison, the ZR1 does better overall. Thus, it is faster.
Both do great.
why not the LS2LS7? 1:20PM (7/11/2008)
Right. That's fair. Top tier Vette (ZR1) against top tier GT-R (base model). See, the V-Spec doesn't actually exist yet. So it's rather odd to count it as a model and not count some phantom Vette you don't know anything about either (perhaps with a dual-clutch gearbox).
Hell, if we're gonna bench race cars that aren't even production, I'm gonna count the C6.R as the top Vette model (GM does actually sell them) and then it won't even be a race.
Vintage 1:36PM (7/11/2008)
Are you braindead? There has always been a Vspec (or Spec V) of the last few skylines. To assume that there would not be a hotter version is just ignorant, especially when shots of ones with different front intakes exist doing various testing. There IS a Spec V. It's not out yet, but it will undoubtedly be faster than the normal GTR.
And no, a C6R is not a valid comparison. That is a full out race car. That could be compared to some Nismo prepared GTR, but that's about it.
I can't believe you chevy fanboys are so biased. I appreciate both cars, but the thought of comparing the ZR1 to a 'regular' GTR is really unfair and stupid.
BigMcLargeHuge 1:48PM (7/11/2008)
@ LS7,
Why do you have such an aversion to comparing like-like?
The V-spec is as real now as the ZR1 was a year ago. They will both be in production simultaneously.
What if the V-spec had come out first? Would you compare the 120K V-spec to the Z06? The GT-R to the Z51? Heck no.
If you want the C6.R, I call the NISMO/MOTUL GT-R. Like-for-like.
Itsuru 1:52PM (7/11/2008)
All comments defending the GT-R are low ranked.
Give it a break Americans...
T Rex 1:54PM (7/11/2008)
Another video here, done differently:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etW4EXMQG5g
Franz 2:32PM (7/11/2008)
It's funny how the Corvette fanboys have short memories. Right now on this blog there are dozens of posts complaining about how we shouldn't be comparing the ZR1 to the V-Spec because it isn't out yet, when EVERY SINGLE ONE of you Corvette fanboys were bench racing the ZR1 against the regular GT-R months before the first spy photo was even taken. You guys need to shut the hell up and pull down your skirts, because your bias is showing.
These are both great cars, and most of us would be happy with either one. You bench racers need to get a life. And I don't care if any of you pathetic morons wanna attack this post. Unlike some of you, I don't mindlessly hate on any car. I just tell it like it is.
brent 3:20PM (7/11/2008)
Proud Japanese! It's CALLED RWD VS. AWD!
Damn, you are such an idiot.
RSR 3:22PM (7/11/2008)
This is ZR-1 vs. GT-R comparison, period. You can always talk about another car vs. another car. So give it a rest and enjoy the cool videos. Both cars are fantastic, and I'd love to even test drive any one of them.
Having said that, 'only 3 seconds'? Do you how much distance that is at that speed? And as you pointed out, there are lots of corners there, but the Ring is pretty much as bad as it gets anywhere. So if you can beat a car there, that probably means it's got a good balance of power and handling. You can't performed well with only one there. Always an excuse of corners... Do you drive your car only on corners?
HotRodzNKustoms 3:45PM (7/11/2008)
@ Proud Japanese:
You obviously don't actually race cars because then you would know how huge of a gap 3 seconds in a single lap is. In any form of racing Nascar, Formula 1, or even Formula Vee if you win an entire race by 3 seconds that's a impressive margin. So to be 3 seconds a lap faster you really are not in the same class. Now I'm not going to get into the whole armchair racer thing but I'm just telling you a 3 second gap in a single lap is a lot more space and time than you think.
Vintage 4:03PM (7/11/2008)
@ Hotrodz&Customs. Just keep in mind what you just said, when the Spec V is unleashed. Seriously. When autoblog posts the laptimes, I'm going to have a comment near the top, saying the following:
Hey HotrodznCustoms: Keep in mind how huge of a gap that means in terms of a lap. The ZR1 sure is slow in comparison.
why not the LS2LS7? 4:18PM (7/11/2008)
It is not a year ago, it is now. The ZR1 is real now, the V-Spec isn't.
I'm not against reasonable comparisons. It's tough to say a V-Spec comparison is reasonable when we don't even know what it is. You are making up a price, a performance level, and a level of trim from whole cloth for the V-Spec.
Franz, I never bench raced the ZR1 against the GT-R when the ZR1 didn't exist (partially because I'm not a fan of the ZR1), even in the very short period when the GT-R existed and the ZR1 didn't. We didn't have a price from the ZR1, and I don't go assuming prices or comparability. BTW, if I had guessed ZR1 prices, I would have guessed lower than $100K, I honestly feel the ZR1 is overpriced.
If the NISMO/MOTUL GT-R you are comparing is the recent one that is a modded R35, then I think C6.R versus that car is a valid comparison. No, I don't think C6.R versus V-Spec is a valid comparison, I guess my sarcasm was a little too subtle. I was making a new invalid comparison to go with the current one I thought was invalid (ZR1 versus V-spec).
If the V-Spec comes out and costs similar to the ZR1, still retains a road-style interior and gets some actual performance figures to go with it, then we can bench race them. My objections to doing so right now are that I strongly feel that the V-spec will not be a comparable car to the ZR1. The ZR1 is a street car, the V-Spec will be a race-prep car, like a Porsche 911 GT3 RS.
If someone wants to say the valid comparison is Z06 versus GT-R, and the GT-R wins, I have no problem with that at all. It's saying the comparison is ZR1 versus ill-defined speculation I have a problem with.
Franz:
That post is well beneath you. You seemed reasonable in general most of the time, this isn't one of your best moments. Calling people pathetic morons? That's not helping your case.
Vintage 4:31PM (7/11/2008)
@ Hotrodz&Customs. Just keep in mind what you just said, when the Spec V is unleashed. Seriously. When autoblog posts the laptimes, I'm going to have a comment near the top, saying the following:
Hey HotrodznCustoms: Keep in mind how huge of a gap that means in terms of a lap. The ZR1 sure is slow in comparison.
Franz 4:39PM (7/11/2008)
@ why not the LS2LS7?:
LOL. Seems I hit a nerve. Did I step on your toes a little bit? It's funny you're the only one to respond when I never singled anyone out. Besides, I don't need anyone to help my case. None of my posts are intended to garner approval or praise... I'm not here looking for a pat on the back. I speak my mind, with little regard to what anyone thinks about my statements. Everyone is entitled to hate, or disagree, but it doesn't make anything I say any less true. I stand by my statement, and I do think all the biased Corvette fanboys are pathetic morons... GT-R fanboys too. Matter of fact, anyone who makes baseless, silly comments on any car just because they don't like it, or if it outperformed their favorite. Plus, the nature of this latest round of fanboy arguments is utterly pointless... if you decide to put yourself on that side of the fence with the morons, that's your problem.
catgirlshyla 4:43PM (7/11/2008)
Is it just me, or has Garage419 timed with the Corvette? Seems kinda bias....