Radical SR8LM Sets New Nurburgring 'Production' Lap Record
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The value of Nurburgring lap times is often called into question, especially when there's no official sanctioning body that tracks them in relation to production cars. And that's even before we get into the discussion of what a 'production' car is. But none of that takes away from the Radical SR8LM's truly impressive 6:48 laptime achieved this week.
As an independent feat of raw mechanical speed and driving talent, the 6:48 lap can't be denied. It's within 40 seconds of the fastest lap ever recorded around the ring, driven by Stefan Bellof in the truly insane and monstrously powerful Porsche 956 back in 1984. The 6:48 lap time cuts down Radical's own record, previously set at 6:56.
But as an example of a production car's capabilities, the lap time is essentially meaningless. While the Radical SR8LM technically qualifies for the title, it's a hand-built, tube-frame race car with no roof or any of the amenities most of us expect from even the most hardcore of road-going sports cars - things like cargo space, or passenger seats.
So Radical claiming the production car lap record at 6:48 isn't quite the same as the Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR's claim at 7:22.4, or even the infamous battle between the Porsche 911 GT3, Nissan GT-R and Corvette ZR1. Those cars are all still completely capable of being driven on the street for normal activities, rain or shine.
The question then becomes: where to draw the line? Does the Gumpert Apollo, which shares more in common with the Radical than any of the true production cars listed above, count? Should it?
Let us know what you'd do if you were the decision maker in the comments section below.
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Have an opinion?
Seraj Posted: 8/20/2009 6:17pm PDT
SMGLee Posted: 8/20/2009 9:43pm PDT
I think a set amount a production number per year, plus a second passenger seat, a roof either add on, folded, or fixed. maybe it will pass the emission and noise certification of a gov't body...of course even with some sort of rules, some manufcture will find a way to by pass it...
until some one smarter than me comes up with a rule package which every manufacture will honor... I say the Gumport has teh best time so far....
Dontlie Posted: 8/23/2009 10:40am PDT
4 wheels, brakes, an engine, a seat, blinkers, brake lights, head lights, and you have yourself a car.
You could tag a Radical or any other car like that here in the states, if you knew what you were doing.
dan Posted: 8/3/2010 5:27pm PDT
Have an opinion?Join the conversation!