1AS

In a word, no.
Try a ZO6 on the track, and you will be impressed. The tt was a reasonable match for a C5 ZO6, but not a C6 model. AS

whyb2nd

power to weight is the issue, a GIAC tune will take care of that chevy.

WHB Porsche

I wonder who the "professional drivers" were. Take someone who raced SCCA Vipers and they'll probably be significantly faster in a Z06 than a 997TT or GT3.

eclou

C&D does not have professional drivers - not even close. The last test of the R8 vs TT vs AMV8 at Willow Springs produced lap times no better than, and even slower than times posted by a 100 hp 89 Honda Civic on worn tires, driven by a non-pro.

At my last event, I was driving the TT along with 3 other SCCA Vipers practicing for the SCCA race. They were not in a different class at all. All the TT needs is a decent alignment and some sticky tires (it sucks at the track on street tires). It is heavier than many track cars and has way more engine and braking power than most track cars. The difference is that track cars have way more camber and way more tire/lb than the TT, so the TT cannot exploit its power and braking the way it could. The Z06 has 275/325 tires, the Viper 305/335 tires. To match the adhesion the TT simply needs stickier tires like Hoosiers.There is not much that will be able take a TT at the track on Hoosiers.

Take a GT3 and switch it to the TT alignment and tires and it too will be less enjoyable at the track. Just wait - the new GT2 coming weighs only 100lbs less than the TT and will have about 40 more HP and the GT3 tires and alignment. Journalists are going to cream over it as if it were the second coming of Christ. This all despite the fact that the TT can already be "adjusted" to perform even better than the GT2 already.

1AS

Weight does matter, and adding horsepower helps acceleration, but nothing else. Why is it hard to accept that awd tt's are not great track cars?
If you put Hoosiers on the ZO6, the performance difference will be just as apparant. Put slicks on, and take another 3 seconds off everybody's lap times.
For track use, get rid of awd, strip out 400 lbs, and regear the trans so that you use more than 2 of the 6 available ratios, and lower the ride height.
Porsche could do what others do with use of lower-weight materials (carbon fiber, balsa/aluminum floors) lower weight components ( window glass, seats), and actual race technology like dsg.
Right now, tt's are very nice street cars that feel fast and look good. AS

eclou

simply because it is untrue. TT's can perform very well at the track. It takes some adjustments to drive an AWD because it does not respond identically to a RWD car. Gallardo's and R8's are doing just fine at the track. The TT does fine too. Last I have checked, there have been at least 7 GT3/RS's wrecked on the Rennlist alone. How many TT's have been wrecked at the track?

Another lister here has both a TT and an RS, both on Motons (he's hardcore). The TT is 1 second faster at his track.

As far as adding tires - if a car is traction challenged, adding Hoosiers makes bigger difference than on a car which is not traction challenged. Spec Miatas don't turn 3 seconds faster on Hoosiers vs Kumho's. The Vette has so much larger tire patch (275 vs 235, 325 vs 305) compared to the TT, especially considering weight, that it should not benefit as much.

Whoopsy

I am no engineer nor racer, but why is that most racing series bans Audi's quattro system and all awd system for the matter? Maybe I bought into Audi's hype but there must be an unfair advantage over rwd in racing situations to warrant the ban.

Skip the bad weather part, we all know awd will have superior traction advantage, but my guess is even in dry weather the traction advantage is still too great to ignore in cars with over 400hp even with the weight penalty.

rmira

7:40 - Porsche 997 Turbo 480PS/1565 kg (Walter Röhrl)
7:40 - Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, Klaus Ludwig (AutoBild 07/04)
7:41 - Manthey Porsche GT3 M410, 413 PS/1320 kg (160.868 km/h) (Autobild 07/04)
7:42 - Porsche 997 GT3, 415 PS/1440 kg, Walter Röhrl (Automobil 05/06)
7:42 - Ford GT, 550 PS/1521 kg (as indicated by Octane magazine, 11/05)
7:42.9-Chevrolet Corvette C6 Z06, 512 PS/1419 kg, Jan Magnussen, 2005/06/23 (news release, pictures)

I found the above on www.wikipedia.com. On www.fastestlap.com both cars were listed at 7:49. In other words, on a 20.8 km course the two cars are close. How does an 8 second difference on a 4 mile track make any sense.

2fas4u

Depends, on who's driving and moreover who's sponsoring dude.

Whoopsy

Isn't the 997 Tubo time 7:49? But boy isn't the Radical SR8 fast or what, THAT is the best bang for the buck bar none for track car. It maybe a race car for all intend and purposes but as I understands it's road legal in the UK and that makes it fair game to compare with any other road cars.

For those who knock the 997 Turbo for being slower than the Z06, the SR8 in turn beat the crap out of the Z06 or any other car without breaking a sweat.

F430 is the fastest Ferrari on board at 7:55, quite a disappointing results for a factory known for their racing excellency. Grant that time is posted by some car mag, a pro would probably knock a few seconds off that time.

whyb2nd

Bull sh*t, something is wrong, maybe the driver. Also I can't remember who posted it but a c5 Z would be pulled by an X50, I know been there done that. Facts: c5 z avg. whp=352, x50=407.
Maybe you referring to a non X50 racing a modded Z.

No flames, I have owned three c5's one a 03 Z06, also an 06 Z. Chevrolet will never never rise to the quality and race history of Porsche standards, regardless of which is quicker in ones hands I think the point stands.
There will always be something out there faster then you, but how do YOU want to get to speed...JMHO

franki68

I find US car magazines very good...for using as emergency toilet paper.
Sure the r8 looks amazing fun,but think about this..you are in an r8 which over here are selling for an average £88000 and next to you pulls up an RS4 which is £55000 over here..and you floor it..oh my god the rs4 which is £30000 ($60000) cheaper, completely matches you..
Now you are in your 997tt and an r8,rs4 CArrera "s pulls up alongside you...next thing you are watching them in your rear view mirror.

BTW only american magazines show such good performance and lap times for the corvette.
On virtually every circuit here the tt gets within 1 second of the gt3,and always beats the corvette..not bad considering it is significantly better road car than either.

W211

I was laughing my head off when I read one of the young C&D drivers (Aaron Robinson) tried to get a better shot of the Ferrari 599 and ended up crashing it.

TT Gasman

I don't buy anything the magazines do, they have their own predetirmined agenda most of the time. Plus the comparisions are hardly scientific, actually laughable, with their "gotta have it" bs.

LastMezger

Even if it were scientific would you care? Anyone here you actually bought a 997TT did so because he/she felt it was the best choice given their parameters.

A C6Z that can out lap a 997TT is hardly the better car. Sure it's faster...on a racetrack. I've never driven any car (and I've pretty much driven them all) you can push as hard as a P-car on a winding b road. Period.

It is interesting though that the Chev guys complain the 'Vette is at a disadvantage because of its ****ty tires...