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More 'Ring running: Maserati MC12 beats world's best in super comparo
Click above for more high-res shots of the Maserati MC12
Despite the fact there is no real "Official 'Ring Record" for production cars, manufacturers never miss the chance to time their fastest cars as they lap the famous German race track. After all, there's a great bit of marketing to be had by claiming that your car is faster than everything else. Maserati realizes this just as much as the next company, and the Italian automaker's MC12 is still 'super' even though it's now three years old. Perhaps even more so, as it recently managed to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife in just 7:24.29. Not only is this an extremely fast time, it betters the marks set by such enviable performers as the Ferrari Enzo, Koenigsegg CCX, Pagani Zonda F Clubsport and Porsche Carrera GT. All of these cars are owned by one (very lucky) man and were tested with the same driver (American Le Mans Series racer Marc Basseng) at the same time and under the same conditions, while lap timing duties went to Europe's evo magazine. All of this lends a dose of credibility to the Trident's accomplishment that's lacking from the incredible 'Ring times that automakers have been claiming lately. So, while not all 'Ring times are created equal, some bragging rights now belong to Maserati.*
*The only car we know of that claims a faster time is the Dodge Viper ACR, which unofficially managed the deed in just 7:22. Your lap times may vary.
Gallery: 2005 Maserati MC12
[Source: Maserati]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Giuseppe 12:11PM (10/10/2008)
Better than an Enzo? I thought the MC12 was an Enzo badged Maserati?
Reply
why not the LS2LS7? 1:01PM (10/10/2008)
Same chassis. They're not completely identical though.
Still, remember you could test the exact same car twice and not get the exact same figures. It's quite possible this is just normal error.
Geoffrey Sneddon 1:17PM (10/10/2008)
Aerodynamically it is almost entirely different from the Enzo, and aero makes a _huge_ difference round the 'ring (look at the Radical SR8, the quickest road-legal car around the 'ring it has far more downforce than virtually everything else road-legal, and a lower top speed, and is under 7 minutes).
hoyaCS08 2:05PM (10/10/2008)
If you look at the source article, the MC12, Enzo and Zonda F were all within a second of each other. It also states that the Enzo's electronic rear dampers stopped working and hindered the time. With a 7+ minute lap, the sub 1 second difference is within the natural lap-to-lap variation that any driver on a track has. I'd call this one a tie.
Dondonel 2:09PM (10/10/2008)
My question is what tires did it use?
hoyaCS08 2:10PM (10/10/2008)
Times:
Koenigsegg CCX: No time mentioned, but slowest
Porsche Carrera GT: 7:28.71
Ferrari Enzo: 7:25.21
Pagani Zonda F Clubsport: 7:24.65
Maserati MC12: 7:24.29
usa35 2:21PM (10/10/2008)
Funny you should mention that. Even Top Gear showed the MC12 to be a bit faster. Apparently it is set up a smidge better, and the stability electronics are just slightly less intrusive.
Peter 3:26PM (10/10/2008)
> Koenigsegg CCX: No time mentioned, but slowest
The CCX did a 7:33:55, but crashed on the final attempt.
JuanC 12:13PM (10/10/2008)
no doubt about it
Reply
JZeke 12:12PM (10/10/2008)
Evo magazine must be the luckiest bunch of motoring journos out there; their managing ed owns a Zonda for chrissakes.
Hats off to them to do it without the bias of advertising or manufacturing pressure.
Reply
2004m3driver 12:16PM (10/10/2008)
Seems like a big difference, but when the course is so long (7+ minute laps) Every second is a very small percentage. So just little driver flaws along the way makes a huge difference. The ring IMO is not the best benchmark course for cars. I'd prefer they do a series of laps on a smaller course with an average of times.
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Arsenal 12:25PM (10/10/2008)
Actually, the best benchmark would be a series of laps on the 'ring with an average of those times.
Smaller courses magnify volatility in lap times. With fewer corners there are fewer opportunities to make a mistake but there are also fewer opportunities to make up mistakes as well.
The reason the 'ring serves as good benchmark is because it is a good combination of factors. There are plenty of technical sections that favor handling, long sections that favor power, and enough variety in both to provide a complete test of performance capabilities.
Short technical tracks over-emphasize handling over power. Traditional long "power" tracks over-emphasize power. The 'ring combines both and if a series of laps are done, you cover handling, power, and endurance.
What's very true about your statement, though, is that on a course as long as the ring... a few seconds difference is meaningless unless it's an avg of many laps.
Richard 12:52PM (10/10/2008)
@ Arsenal.
Jesus man! That may be the best post I have ever read here on Autoblog - including my own.
A really good - and well written - analysis.
Franz 1:38PM (10/10/2008)
+1. Brilliant post, Arsenal.
2004m3driver 4:35PM (10/10/2008)
I'm proud my post led to a greater post. Thanks Arsenal. I was thinking something like that, but failed to put into consideration that some shorter tracks would favor cars with more heavily handling oriented opposed to balance of both.
Amien 12:27PM (10/10/2008)
Nice time, Though i think limited production cars like these, zonda et al(along with price) are in an entirely different league.
That being said, this is pretty impressive for a 3 year old model.
Reply
Richard 12:56PM (10/10/2008)
Your comment creates an interesting question in my mind:
What time would that McLaren F1 car that Gordon Murray designed do 'round the ring. That thing is how old now, but I bet it would post a pretty decent time.
RJ 1:53PM (10/10/2008)
Sadly, the McLaren F1 wasn't a very good track car. It emphasized everyday liveability, and all out top speed / top-end acceleration over pure track performance.
Interesting fact - it pulled .86g on the skidpad, which sadly, is Acura TL territory. My guess of the F1 Ring time is around 7:50. Reason being a Veyron could only do 7:40, which has even better top end than the McLaren.
However, I'd love to witness the top end on the straightway, in a McLaren F1!
IOMTT 2:32PM (10/10/2008)
I believe I saw a Radical on a show a few years back and I am shocked it is street legal. If I am correct, it uses a Suzuki Hyabusa engine...anyone know more about the Radical???
Coffee Jones 9:41PM (10/10/2008)
Radical is just the company name. Radical SR8 is the one we're talking about.
http://www.radicalsportscars.com/
And the SR8's owners manual with the maintenance schedule, which is a lot more like an ALMS car than a road car. It makes ferrari ownership look easy.
http://www.radicalsportscars.com/range/sr8/2006%20Radical%20SR8%20Owners%20Manual.pdf