Discussion
f40king said:
who would be the best judge of all supercars?
I've had a lot of experience owning, driving or instructing in a high number of Performance vehicles including Lamborghini’s, Ferrari's, Astons, Porsche, Noble, Westfield’s at most Circuit’s and years of Circuit Motor racing Experience, so what is it you need to know? 
edited to correct shocking grammar 
georgeo said:
f40king said:
who would be the best judge of all supercars?
I've had a lot of experience owning, driving and instructing in a high number of performance vehicles including Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Astons, Porsches, Nobles and Westfields at most circuits and have years of circuit motor racing experience, so what is it you need to know? Edited by RobM77 on Sunday 21st December 20:49
Seriously though, I think it depends on what criteria you're judging the car by. I would tend to judge a supercar by the following criteria:
1) Handling - A top line racing driver like Derek Bell or Walter Rohrl would be best to judge this I think, but the input of the intended purchaser would be equally as valid as a road car needs to react to various driving styles, not just the smooth hand of a racing driver.
2) Performance - this can be measured in absolute terms quite easily with a stopwatch and a reasonable driver behind the wheel.
3) Feedback - This is what makes a Lotus Exige differ from a 350Z. Some people grip onto the wheel too tightly to feel such things, or simply aren't sensitive enough. Personally, I think feedback is an essential quality of a car and it is what makes it interesting and desirable to drive.
4) Practicality - easily measured by the intended purchaser. If you're not worried about practicality, then just buy a Caterham, which will be miles faster than a supercar round a track or down a twisty road, and far more fun too. Supercars are generally bigger more refined cars for carrying luggage and passengers around, and as such the intended buyer would be best judged to measure this.
In answer to the OP, if one person has to judge all of the above, then I think I'd ask a good ride and handling engineer for his opinion - someone like Matt Becker or Gavan Kershaw from Lotus perhaps.
1) Handling - A top line racing driver like Derek Bell or Walter Rohrl would be best to judge this I think, but the input of the intended purchaser would be equally as valid as a road car needs to react to various driving styles, not just the smooth hand of a racing driver.
2) Performance - this can be measured in absolute terms quite easily with a stopwatch and a reasonable driver behind the wheel.
3) Feedback - This is what makes a Lotus Exige differ from a 350Z. Some people grip onto the wheel too tightly to feel such things, or simply aren't sensitive enough. Personally, I think feedback is an essential quality of a car and it is what makes it interesting and desirable to drive.
4) Practicality - easily measured by the intended purchaser. If you're not worried about practicality, then just buy a Caterham, which will be miles faster than a supercar round a track or down a twisty road, and far more fun too. Supercars are generally bigger more refined cars for carrying luggage and passengers around, and as such the intended buyer would be best judged to measure this.
In answer to the OP, if one person has to judge all of the above, then I think I'd ask a good ride and handling engineer for his opinion - someone like Matt Becker or Gavan Kershaw from Lotus perhaps.
Edited by RobM77 on Sunday 21st December 20:51
waremark said:
How about Loris Bicocchi - development driver I rather think for all of Pagani, Bugatti and Koenigsegg (no doubt someone will correct me if I am wrong). If I have got that right, he clearly has a good range, covering the go-kart like Zondas as well as the superfast luxury Bugatti.
That was just what I was getting at in my post.Edited by RobM77 on Sunday 21st December 21:42
There are fantastic videos here of Marc Basseng going for Ring lap records in several of the ultimate supercars:
http://www.supercarmovies.com/html/interface.html
(if you want to know the answer, after beating the record several times the best time for the session went to the Maserati. The Enzo adaptive suspension could not cope with a lap of the ring, and the Koenigsegg crashed big time due to a shower (not seen in the vids).
http://www.supercarmovies.com/html/interface.html
(if you want to know the answer, after beating the record several times the best time for the session went to the Maserati. The Enzo adaptive suspension could not cope with a lap of the ring, and the Koenigsegg crashed big time due to a shower (not seen in the vids).
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