F1technical.net

Tp wrote:

b) I'd love to see how a McLaren F1 and Veyron would do round the track

I can't imagine the Mclaren F1 being the fastest, it is very, very fast in a straight line, but supposedly flawed around a track. For example it was said that the brakes can't hold a candle to the carbon-ceramics on the latest super cars. It also produces less downforce, than say, an Enzo Ferrari (but most likely more than a koenigsegg minus the rear wing ) The latest super cars also have driver aids, so the driver can extrapolate as much as possible from the car, without flying off the track.

And what are you baseing this on, the mclaren f1 did very well in sports car racing if you can remember that far back

Well wazo and Tp, that was over 10 years ago, and for LeMans, McLaren made such changes as increase both the front and rear overhangs, to increase aerodynamic stability, add a big rear wing and I think they might have lowered the engine in the chassis. Which are quite significant changes from the original McF1.

Keep in mind the McLaren F1 was designed as a ROAD CAR. And that was nearly 10 years ago.

Obviously it isn't a Dauer 962 or Veyron but during its time it was the king.

I don't really admire the Veyron myself.

Thank you Zac510 for understanding that they don't take 'box-standard' road cars to LeMans.

As West said the Mclaren is road biased, whereas the Enzo is track biased. Even Martin Brundle (in his Supercars DVD) said the Enzo is faster around the track. But the Enzo isn't as good as the Mclaren on the road.

......if you can remember that far back

No, as I was only seven then!

just saw the new fifth gear, and the previews for next week, "we have sporty spice's brother drive a car" I was like whoa, they are pulling the stops lol

zac510 wrote:I don't really admire the Veyron myself.

You're a lucky man then! Those who admire it can't afford it. I read it cost around 1 960 000 €

I didn't know top gear before reading this thread, but now I want that they test it. Just wonder what the beast really have in the stomach. nearly 1000HP combined to an integral transmition is impressive for sure, but as it weight almost two tons with full tank, maybe cornering speed is an issue. Does someone have a pic of the layout of their test track? (or a google earth link, even better).

Talking about the Veyron I don't say it's top speed of 407 km/h (~252 mph) is a lie, but I read to achieve it you need to contact Bugatti center, for they fit the car with high speed tyres, check it fully and remove electronic speed limiter. Well, it's not the kind of thing one does everyday...

I just think the whole process they went through to produce the car is 'wrong', ie designing the body then building the engine.

Also the engine seems to need a lot of boost to produce not much horsepower relative to its enormous capacity.

Don't get me wrong, I want to own a car worth over a million pounds, but when you consider it from an engineering perspective, I don't think it is that impressive.

maybe cornering speed is an issue

Nah, in the words of Clarkson 'this thing really handles'

but I read to achieve it you need to contact Bugatti center, for they fit the car with high speed tyres, check it fully and remove electronic speed limiter.

From what I read and saw on Top Gear, all you have to do is stop the engine then insert the key in a slot by the side of the seat, turn it, and the rear spoiler no longer comes up, and the car's ride height alters at the front and rear - that's all you need to do to achieve the Top Speed.
it's already fitted with the Michelin ultra-high-speed tyres.

Does someone have a pic of the layout of their test track?

S'on their website somewhere.
either http://www.topgear.com or http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear


EDIT:

Also the engine seems to need a lot of boost to produce not much horsepower relative to its enormous capacity.

yeh, but it does take humoungous effort to produce such large power, increasing the capacity doesn't work as well when it starts to get enormous, besides, if it relied on being normally aspirated to produce that power... well, you already need 10 radiators to cool it with the turbos

Didn't the 400km/h Veyron have a taped up front and other aerodynamic tweaks to decrease the drag?

m3_lover wrote.

just saw the new fifth gear, and the previews for next week, "we have sporty spice's brother drive a car" I was like whoa, they are pulling the stops lol

My sister tells me that mel C's brother is in fact BTCC eggsport driver, Paul O'Neal.

Clear things up a bit?

should have said he was a BTCC driver and not the brother of sport spice, sounded pretty gay.

If Hannah wasn't a hard-core spice girls fan I wouldn't have known either.

Clarkson cracks me up.