2016 Car & Driver Lightning Lap 10

[Xcentric]

Lightning Lap (LL) 1: 2006 Ford GT - 3:00.7

LL 10: 2016 Shelby GT350R - 2:51.8

Impressive eh? Well, hold the cheers.

LL 8: 2015 Z-28 - 2:50.9

LL 10: 2017 Corvette GS - 2:47.1

I'm going to say the 2017 Z-28 will be within a few 1/10ths of the GS. Maybe match it.

How do you put the 350R on a much-needed diet, when it already has CF wheels, no back seat, etc.?

 

[w.a.nelson]

Usually, at the end of the day, those guys are ahead of us.

Our engineering and performance accomplishments are nothing to be ashamed of, but Chevy always seems to be able to go the extra fraction.

Dang! I've been frustrated since '55. ( That was a LONG time ago for those of you who aren't familiar with that term. )

 

[BtwoG]

I never knew that a FGT participated in the LL. That's a great data point. Though tire technology has changed significantly during those years and with the modern cars using R Comp tires, I'll bet that accounts for much of the difference.

Though the Z28 is a bit faster, environmental effects could certainly account the sub-second difference between the 350R and the Z28. I've never driven a Z28, but from what I've read, the GT350R is a much better street car.

However, I agree with you that the new Z28 will be sub 2:50 which is worlds ahead of the Shelby.

 

[BtwoG]

And its still quite impressive that the Shelby beats the BMW M4 GTS, Porsche Cayman GT4, and Audi R8V10+

http://www.caranddriver.com/feature...results-historical-lap-times-and-more-feature

And I'm glad a magazine finally had the balls to show how much of a POS the Tesla is on track.

 

[BtwoG]

Also, pretty amazing that the GT350R is 30 seconds per lap faster than a 2006 Mustang GT. That's worlds apart.


24 LL2 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R 2:51.8
188 LL1 2006 Ford Mustang GT 3:20.9

 

[djs]

WADR, the Z/28 is a one dimensional track car. No one, and I mean no one drives one on the street, unless he/she is a real true believer. Yes, the GT350 should be lighter, but you're still comparing apples to oranges when one has a 7 liter push rod small block that makes torque down low vs a 5.2 liter DOHC flat planer that needs to rev. Tire technology as much as anything is the biggest difference in times plummeting over the last decade. But cars stripped of AC,creature comforts and sound deadening do not a comfortable ride make. I know one can buy a GT350R sans AC, etc., and maybe some folks do, but one doesn't see GT350s languishing on dealer lots. Z/28s, OTOH, are glued to the showroom floor.

 

[Sinovac]

Results from different years, different drivers, etc. are not definitive.

 

[Specracer]

If Tesla, Google etc have their way, this variable will be eliminated.

different drivers,.

 

[Xcentric]

Results from different years, different drivers, etc. are not definitive.

Fan boy.

 

[Sinovac]

Fan boy.

It's Mr. Fanboi to you.

 

[Mike Mosing]

The guy that works on my cars drives his Z/28 on the street daily. Hates the tires because he will only get 500 miles out of them. I looked at it closely and I really am not a fan of the looks. I prefer the GT350R overall...so much that I got an allocation for one and could have bought a Z/28 from my local dealer but jumped at the chance to get the GT350R. It just seems to have a bit more P-Zaz...but less speed and I am OK with that.

 

[stuntman]

Results from different years, different drivers, etc. are not definitive.

Agreed. LL is a bit of a joke. It's conducted over multiple days using different drivers of varying levels of talent. KC is their best driver and is within a second or two of a Pro, meanwhile Tony and Aaron are a good few seconds off KC, and Josh is even less experienced.

Lap times can vary by second(S) over the course of a day, let alone 3, and you can't look at historic times either because VIR has been widened and repaved twice in the last 3 years. Looking at LL results isn't too far off going to an HPDE event and looking at how a given car stacks up with another (driver variables).

While 2 years separated the tests, MT's BDC uses a pro (Randy) and hold a lot more constant, and the GT350R was 1.7 seconds faster than the Z28. On the same day with a pro driving, the 350R is a good amount faster than the Z28.

0.02

 

[dbk]

All of that ^.

A GT350R at VIR in the hands of a competent pro is 3+ seconds a lap faster than a Z28.

 

[GTJack]

It's Mr. Fanboi to you.

And all these years I have been spelling it Phanboi.

 

[07XL0027]

https://youtu.be/vtdtGgf1BF0

The GT350R has the best lap times in this YouTube video.


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[STORMCAT]

our GT's GY tires are a weak link for good track times, Lot's of Z28's on the streets down here but we have really smooth roads, Z28 CC brakes are a big plus.. our test rides in a 350R were impressive.... never been in a Z28. those cars ( 350R & Z28) are always going to be close since they bench mark each other.
The new Z28 on this lighter platform will be interesting . I don't really keep up on the stats on the weights of these cars so I am not sure how much lighter the new Camaro is vs the previous gen.. Both the Mustang and the Camaro will get the new 10 speed auto.. ahhh the pony car wars .. opop

 

[GKW05GT]

https://youtu.be/vtdtGgf1BF0

The GT350R has the best lap times in this YouTube video.


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Chris thought you were changing your screen name????

 

[roketman]

Put me in a GT with similar sticky tires and I will beat them!

 

[07XL0027]

That's the spirit!!


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[stuntman]

Someone should put MPSC2 tires on their GT and have a pro do a time at VIR.