17 April 2009 - 13:00
’Ring wars: Round IV
The Nissan/Porsche Nurburgring war isn't going to end amicably, is it? Last year, Nissan reported that the GT-R had lapped the 'Ring in a scant 7m29s - a full three seconds quicker than a Porsche GT2. Porsche was sceptical. It bought a GT-R, shipped it to the 'Ring and posted a time of 7m54s.
Nissan retaliated, emphatically stating that the GT-R was a stock production
car, releasing photos of the tyres and posting a video of the 'Ring lap as
evidence. It even offered free training to the Porsche test drivers. That
probably didn't help matters.
And now the 2009 GT-R has just lapped the 'Ring in 7m27.56s in the hands of
chief test driver Toshio Suzuki, a full second and a half quicker than before.
The slightly updated Godzilla has an extra 5bhp, V-Spec tyres, a revised
dual-clutch transmission and retuned suspension. All stock, Nissan is keen to
point out - all options that GT-R customers can spec on their cars.
Ominously, Nissan reckons the GT-R can go even quicker: although the 'Ring
tarmac was dry, Suzuki reported it was slippery and strewn with dust and sand.
Nissan is promising another shot at the 'Ring record tomorrow if the track
conditions improve.
So what is Porsche thinking? It's rumoured that the new GT2 is set to debut at
the Frankfurt show this autumn... how long before it hits the 'Ring?
Want to comment on this?
Porsche can't win, simply because the GT-R has a reputation for records to maintain, and Nissan take their flagship car VERY seriously. I'd like to see Zuffenhausen's efforts though. The 997-and-a-half is about to gain a GT2, which will also be a very serious attempt. I can't wait for the next round! So was this lap done by a full-on V-Spec or a NISMO-specced base car?
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
I just can't wait until they officially take the V-spec version round the track. And I agree that this rivalry is only good for Porsches car and their speeds ;) @Mikeado This was a stock car. V-Spec isn't official yet, Nismo isn't exactly "stock". The mentality for GT-R is that they always keep improving their car with minor tweaks. This is the first "tweak" after the initial release. V-spec was only mentioned for tires, which apparently are racier and have more grip.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
It's gonna get really messy if you think about it. Both sides hate loosing. This may sound silly, but I can see Porsche taking out a law suit because Porsche will spend at least this year just trying to bring out higher speced models to compete with what nissan will turn out. However Porsche will probably take out a law suit against nissan threatening them with an ulimatum of some sort, so that way Porsche's can be better. And fonot think that this is stupid and has never happened before. It has. When apple iPhone was launched everyone rushed out to buy one. Months later the HTC G1 (also know as: google phone or T-mobile G1) HTC wanted to put a 3.5mm headphone jack on the phone which would make the G1 a better phone. Apple took out a law suit against them and made an ultimatum. That's why u don't have a 3.5mm headphone jack. Because apple knew it would win over apple and the iPhone. Ashleigh Wilson age: 13
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Porsche just can't handle being beaten by something as mundane as a Nissan. They will be fuming that the Japanese have came to their patch(Germany) and done it better than them, and lets face it Porsche know what they are doind!
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Even though the GT-R is faster than a Porsche GT2 around the Nurburgring, it has already beaten by the Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 and the Dodge Viper SRT-10 ACR.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Well it's true ZR-1 and that viper are faster. But consider this: a Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 costs 3 times as much as a GT-R in Europe, yet only 1.1 seconds faster round the Nürburg. Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR is a hard core track car. GT-R isn't. Also the GT-R is only 5.4 seconds slower than this hard core track car, on a course thats almost 21 kilometers long. Let the v-spec come out for GT-R. I have a feeling that both of them are going to be beaten by the v-spec.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
It'll hurt more for Porsche should they lose... Somehow i have a feeling someone's bluffing about the lap times... I'm guessing its Nissan, since Nissan's been "provoking" Porsche... (Or is it the other way around?)
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Free lessons why not just give them a free test driver!
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Who cares about lap times, I know which one I'd rather be seen in ... the Porsche besides the speed limit in the UK is what 75max ... who cares who goes round the ring fastest ... the Porsche is the car to have. .. Just one other point, to make it a fair test surely we need a completely independent test driver fee of bias. Is the Stig busy these days??
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Both are great cars and you can't just justify them on a lap time - I don't know why porsche is getting so worked up about a silly lap time
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Anyway the Porsche is a hundred time nicer to look at , and the fastetst car ever around the ring is a Porsche (1983 : Porsche 956 , driven by Stefan Bellof in 6'11.130 ) And if you want a fair test bring the GT-R and a GT 2 at the ring the same day , with the same tiers and ask Sabine Schmitz to drive them . Then you'll know which one is the fastest .
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
why dont they both hand the nissan and the porsche over to Sabien if thats spelt correctly.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
I agree :) Sabien knows the ring better than anyone, she should test both cars. All in favor of this idea write on your post in capital letters: SABIEN
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Minimality, thanks for that. One thing, though: the V-Spec is official, so official that many mags have tested it round Nissan's test track in Japan. -- to the comments above this, it's spelt SABINE SCHMIDT. And that's a great idea.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Porsche won't ever keep up with Nissan. Why? because Japanese cars have been tuned to eat supercars for decades now, by blokes in sheds. We've seen Skylines with over 1000bhp, Supras doing over 200mph and on the backroads, there's nothing quicker than a tuned Evo or Subaru. This time though, the japanese manufacturer itself is tuning their car. They built the GTR from ground-up to be as fast as it can be, and are constantly updating it as technology improves. If Porsche want to keep up, they have to come in with a completely new design - one designed for the single purpose of thrashing whatever car fancies a fight.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Porsche GT2 amazing fine tuned German engineering around $190,000.00 and gotta be a cock to own one! GTR Japenese dynasty "godzilla" Japanese techno gadgetry around $80,000.00 I will save the 100K maybe put a down on a home and buy some upgrades for the GTR kick every Porsche ass on the road and still have enough left to get a cheeseburger on the way home. For those that watch supercars exposed Porsche owners can't even take getting beatin by another Porsche they cry and bitch (techart gt getting smaked down by vralexander) Let alone the factory and another make of car. lets see what Porsche has to cry about next......Want a equal test give them both to stig on the same day ...No driver bias, politics or drama just the stig!
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Sabine is the answer. AshHorne is right, there are frightening cars coming out of some Japanese sheds. Now we know what happens when guys in sheds get funded. Awesome. Well done Nissan!
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
it doesnt matter about having an unbiased driver-if porsche want a better lap time, they should hire a better test driver! the GTR is by far a worthy successor to the skyline, but the porsche does have the advantage over it in that on roads, it looks better and sounds better. I think the fact that the GTR is thrashing a GT2 is quite funny, but get real. Unles you live in germany near the autobahns, then the Porsche is the car you would want. Go anywhere in the GTR and people will look and say "it's a nissan.......", but in the Porsche people will give you a certain level of respect, even if they know nothing about cars. However, you look at the prices for a couple of minutes and you will change your mind. The nissan is WAY cheaper than the porsche, and if you can put up with the nissan badge it is one awesome car. So, buy the nissan, go to Germany, and every time you see a GT2 wave your middle finger at them and floor it.....
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Eh? Porsche should hire a better test driver? Better than two-time rally world champion Walter Röhrl? There's an amazing amount of badge snobbery being displayed here..
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
I believe Porsche made a mistake by forcing them self into a ring competition with Nissan... it is quite simple logic really. Sure, in theory, they can put everything they know in a car and sell it at the same price as the GTR, but that will be the wrong business decision. Porsche can't win, no matter how hard they will try, they will never be able to deliver a car that can dominate the GT-R at the same price range, it is impossible for them at this point to do this without damaging brand prestige and current price ranges.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
I believe Porsche made a mistake by forcing them self into a ring competition with Nissan... it is quite simple logic really. Sure, in theory, they can put everything they know in a car and sell it at the same price as the GTR, but that will be the wrong business decision. Porsche can't win, no matter how hard they will try, they will never be able to deliver a car that can dominate the GT-R at the same price range, it is impossible for them at this point to do this without damaging brand prestige and current price ranges.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
ummm one small problem with SABIEN driving both cars ... she's German isn't she ... now what car do you think shes going to do a better time in ... The Porsche obviously, if she looks at her stop watch towards the end of the lap in the Rice mobile and sees that its going to be quicker she'll back off or bin it and say it's crap lol. Realistically though Porsche don't need to get bent out of shape, people don't buy cars based on their 'Ring times. The class of people that buy Porsche or Nissan are worlds apart, I doubt that someone with the money to buy a Porsche will buy a Nissan.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
You got to give the Nissan credit for sticking it to Porsche. I disagree with the assertion that the class of people buying Nissans and Porsches are worlds apart. They aren't really I mean the GTR was designed to stick it to Porsche, Porsche is designed to stick it to the likes of Ferrari (and other over-priced, but awesome supercars) by being a peoples supercar. Nissan just designed the poor mans supercar only it really, really isn't poor its awesome!! Still give the Stig both cars (or better yet give them both to me) and lets get some unbiased testing done
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
I need 2 cars so I'll buy both!
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
A few years ago Porsche stated that their cars were not about being the fastest but about being the sportiest in town. They should have remembered that before they let themselves get involved. A 911 can't win this because of the rearmounted engine. You can see that on any track where there are Porsches and, say, BMW's. Those with Porsches are always more careful, while others dare to take a risk here and there, without margin for error.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
No offense to Porsche its got the reputation for bringing out great racing machines,but..this time is the GTR's realm..Im a big fan of Japanese cars and Nissan's killer Skyline's dominated the streets and now bring up the the ultimate GTR to the track,Porsche better come up with something better..
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
The Stig drove the GT2 and the GT-R on the Top Gear track , the GT2 was faster. Nissan is full of crap.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
There's a slight difference between the Top Gear Test Track & the Nürburgring.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
I think this competitions is very good, because it's going to push these two car makers to build better and better cars .
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
scratchy, the GT2 was faster... by 0.2 seconds. And Painkiller is right. Dunsfold is just a flat runway with some lines on it compared to a 13 mile circuit with an altitude change of 98ft, poor surfaces in places (for a track), odd cambers and even a jump or two. Plus, is 0.2 seconds worth an extra £50,000? Especially as the base GT-R is aimed at the 997 Turbo.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
complaining about the price is just stupid. everyone knows exclusivity and prestige comes with a price. 0.2 sec is a lot on a small track like the TG test track. in a real race you don't do just one lap. besides , if Porsche would spend one year just to tune a car for Nordschleife they would make something better than Nissan.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
v. high tech, v. stunning, v. fast, v. good at corners and many good comments 2 say abou it
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
it will probably never end, and were Porshe trying when they sent round the gtr? SABINE SCHMIDT
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Come on, the GT2 is far from the fastest car it CAN be, 9ff has aftermarket tuning options for it at 670 BHP, RUF has 997 Turbo convos in producing 650 BHP. Porche left their GT2 at "just" 530 ? they are too conservative, I guess. Problem with tuning of course is that too much of it cuts into reliability. The GT2 is obviously the limit of how much usability and reliability Porsche is willing to sacrifice on their 911s. If you want a road-legal Porche that beats the crap out of Nissan on the Nürnburg, go to the tuning houses (expensive though they may be). If you just want a car that looks great, is plenty fast on the track, and will last decades, go with a stock Porsche.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Why do Porsche people hate the GTR, what because it's heavier, bigger, under powered and yet it beats them. Porsches are overpriced and under performe it's that simple because stupid still buy them saying it's the experiance and heritage and all that other pap. I say they just don't know there cars, only what there programed to like. I used to always want a Porsche but I don't see the point now, even if I had the money to buy another car after the GTR then I would go for the XFR which is the best of it's class!
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Advertisement
Advertisement feature
Discover the new Insignia VXR
The Vauxhall Insignia VXR is in showrooms now. To read more about the car and for your chance to win an iPod Touch, click here.
Test Driven
.jpg?p=080926_03:52)
Audi TT Roadster
Forget the hyperdrive quattro versions. This honest, no frills TT is one of the best you can buy.
Advertisement
Open Car Bar
Turbomatic commented on this article
17 April 2009
A bit of friendly competition isn't a bad thing, if anything it's going to push Porsche to make there cars even better and quicker than before!
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.