Top Gear End of Series and no M400 review

[DanH]

pants. Top gear had done it again and not shown the Noble in the series which it is filmed during.

[TONY3R]

Has the Stig done a best lap in a NOBLE yet? Is it on the supercar best lap board? I don't even think the NOBLE is on the whats cool and whats not cool board?

As for the M400 I reckon they will bring it into the new series in Autumn as most of the TOP GEAR shows are pre-recorded.

Something to look forward to.

[smuudge]

Its 7th according to Top Gears website and that was in the original M12 GTO....not bad considering the company..



1st
Mercedes McLaren SLR - 1.20.9

2nd
Ford GT - 1.21.9

Joint 3rd
Ferrari 360 CS - 1.22.3

Joint 3rd
Porsche GT3 RS - 1.22.3

4th
Murcielago - 1.23.7

5th
Zonda - 1.23.8


Koenigsegg - 1.23.9


Noble - 1.25.0


Gallardo - 1.25.8


Lotus Exige - 1.26.4


Chevrolet Corvette - 1.26.8


Porsche 911 GT3 - 1.27.2


TVR 350c - 1.27.5

[DanH]

Smudge they recorded the M400 lap time a couple of weeks ago and the rumour is it did very very well. Which is why we wanted to see it. By all accounts Clarkson was heard commenting that it came top or something.

Maybe he doesn't want it shown until he sells on his Ford GT?

[micknall]

Yes, the Stig has figured the M400, but Andy Wilman - the series editor - has always had it scheduled for the autumn series. They don't want to see the top-runners toppled as soon as they get there!

Obviously, TG have kept the 400's time close to their chests, so we'll have to wait and see. Stupidly, I didn't time the laps when I was there - didn't have a wristwatch!

Simon Hucknall
Press Officer
Noble Automotive Ltd.

[Horse_Apple]

The conversation that I overheard stated that it had beaten the Ford GT.

[gotapex]

Horse_Apple said:

The conversation that I overheard stated that it had beaten the Ford GT.

Considering the relative tightness of their course, and the M400's massive power to weight advantage over the GT (400hp/ton vs 299hp/ton), I wouldn't be surprised.

The wait on this episode is painful though. I keep expecting it to show up. Hehe.

[andyvdg]

One thing that I haven't got my head around is the use of more track focussed tyres on some models and the effect on lap times. I think the RS has stickier rubber that the GT3 - so if you put the same tyres on both cars what's the performance difference you are buying ? I think the M400 runs on sticky shoes as well - so how much of the performance increase is down to that rather than the other changes ?

Cheers,

Andy.

>> Edited by andyvdg on Tuesday 3rd August 10:20

[DanH]

andyvdg said:

One thing that I haven't got my head around is the use of more track focussed tyres on some models and the effect on lap times. I think the RS has stickier rubber that the GT3 - so if you put the same tyres on both cars what's the performance difference you are buying ? I think the M400 runs on sticky shoes as well - so how much of the performance increase is down to that rather than the other changes ? Cheers, Andy. >> Edited by andyvdg on Tuesday 3rd August 10:20

Hard to tell, and in the end what exactly can the journos do other than take the car as supplied. At least they seem to supply with the rubber that they sell the cars with!

I'm sure some of the M400s speed is from the rubber, but it also has a more powerful engine, revised geo, revised damping and numerous other improvements. After all, you can't just bolt on stickier tyres and expect it to work well without changing damping and geo.

Anyway its a 2 edged sword putting on semi slick boots and firming up the damping. If you take it too far, the car ends up being crap on the road. Those BMW M3 CSL cup tyres are lethal by all accounts!

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

andyvdg said:

One thing that I haven't got my head around is the use of more track focussed tyres on some models and the effect on lap times. I think the RS has stickier rubber that the GT3 - so if you put the same tyres on both cars what's the performance difference you are buying ? I think the M400 runs on sticky shoes as well - so how much of the performance increase is down to that rather than the other changes ? Cheers, Andy.

Just what I've been thinking. That said the 1:25 time was a 3L with no LSD and the old Stig/Circuit driving. I did Robotwars for 2 years and one statement came up a lot. 'Remember, it's just for television'.

[micknall]

The M400's tyres obviously do have an effect on overall grip levels, but they were also chosen because of their inherent progressiveness when they did start to lose grip. Other factors, such as sidewall stiffness and the ability to run them at low enough pressures so as not to ruin on-road ride, were also considered.

However, it's difficult to isolate the difference the tyres alone make, because they were added to the M400's spec along with different dampers, springs and an ARB. Simply adding Corsas to a standard 3R would not make it handle like an M400...

Top Gear's procedure for lap-timing cars at Dunsfold has always appeared 100 per cent honest, with the Stig usually making five or six attempts at a decent time. This was the case with the GTO-3 and the M400, albeit with different Stigs.

Can't comment about other manufacturers, but I can guarantee that both the car's we've offered them have been 'straight out of the box', with no special tweeks!

[KaiPL]

smuudge said:

Its 7th according to Top Gears website and that was in the original M12 GTO....not bad considering the company.. 1st Mercedes McLaren SLR - 1.20.9 2nd Ford GT - 1.21.9 Joint 3rd Ferrari 360 CS - 1.22.3 Joint 3rd Porsche GT3 RS - 1.22.3 4th Murcielago - 1.23.7 5th Zonda - 1.23.8 Koenigsegg - 1.23.9 Noble - 1.25.0 Gallardo - 1.25.8 Lotus Exige - 1.26.4 Chevrolet Corvette - 1.26.8 Porsche 911 GT3 - 1.27.2 TVR 350c - 1.27.5

The time for the Lotus Exige is actually
1.26.9
I believe that the Porsche Carrera GT ran somewhere in the minute 19 second range as well.



>> Edited by KaiPL on Tuesday 3rd August 19:18

[gotapex]

KaiPL said:

The time for the Lotus Exige is actually 1.26.9 I believe that the Porsche Carrera GT ran somewhere in the minute 19 second range as well.

Yeah, the Exige was 1:26.9 on a wet track.

The Carrera GT was 1:19.8.