Porsche dominates Nurburgring 24hrs, Lexus LF-A places 121st

xdrive_ submitted on 05/27/2008 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 8:06 AM
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Tags: Porsche, racing, Lexus, BMW, Vokswagen, Scirocco

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Porsche dominates Nurburgring 24hrs, Lexus LF-A places 121st

It’s always nice to see the finish line at the end of the race’ but when you’re racing for 24-hours the sight of the finish line can be a very emotional one. Porsche dominated the top 10 list at the race occupying eight of the spots.

Porsche’s 911 GT3 RSR, driven by Bernhard Timo, Lieb Marc, Dumas Romain, Tiemann Marcel, came in first. Second placed was held by the Porsche 911 GT3 MR followed by the Porsche 997.

BMW’s Z4 M and the M3 GTS were the only two cars in the top 10 stopping Porsche from taking over the list coming in at fourth and sixth place respectively.

Volkswagen’s much hyped Scirocco GT24 came in 11th. Other cars that we were keeping an eye out for were the Aston Martin V8 Vantage N24 which came in 18th; Lamborghini’s Gallardo came in at 106th; and Lexus’ much hyped LF-A came in at 121st.
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1000rrRider - 5/27/2008 9:35:30 AM

-7 Boost

Scirocco GT24 ahead of Lamborghini Gallardo, Aston Martin V8 Vantage and LF-A makes no sense?

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AlexTx - 5/27/2008 9:50:29 AM

+7 Boost

And why not?

DexDiamonds - 5/27/2008 9:53:11 AM

+5 Boost

Yeah it's about endurance. Not necessarily top speed handling or looks.

kpaxx - 5/27/2008 9:54:17 AM

0 Boost

Oh! so it is more about substance than style!

Agent009 - 5/27/2008 10:29:30 AMView My AgentSpace

-7 Boost

Maybe that is a good question.

How can a 325hp front wheel drive Scirocco even come close to beating a 500hp Lexus LF-A?

richardp996 - 5/27/2008 10:50:25 AM

+2 Boost

Well, Agent009, despite having different spread of horsepower, no one knows what trim either cars have. It seems like Toyota wasn't wanting to put too much pressure on their car because it is probably expensive to fix a bespoke engine unit that isn't yet in production. Toyota has their reasons to pull out, which more information might be leaked or that the factory will keep it under the radar.

Agent009 - 5/27/2008 11:02:36 AMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

surely with all of the resources Toyota can muster, repairs to the LF-A can't be an issue.

richardp996 - 5/27/2008 11:08:58 AM

+4 Boost

It is more than endurance, it is survival. The entry list of the race was 220 cars ranging from Zakspeed Viper to the Paragon GT3RSR to the Marangoni Fiat 500, which was lapping the circuit 4min30sec slower than the two previous mentioned cars. I saw an old school Honda CRX to the Civic Type-R fighting for position... it is really dangerous to pass since the track is really narrow. That and the wide spectrum of different speeds is crazy.

2JayZee - 5/27/2008 1:37:19 PM

+4 Boost

you sir, 009 are flame baiting.

The Lexus spent 3 hours in the pit very early in the race. It damaged it's transmission and was leaking fluid. It got airborne over one of the crests, I have no idea if that was the cause, but the damage is what caused the tranny to be overheating later in the race and incur a further two one hour pit stops. Not such a bad performance when you look at it from that angle huh?

One should also note it qualified in the top 30 and top 3 in its class. [8.56.xx around the extended ring]

sizquik - 5/27/2008 1:39:55 PM

-3 Boost

No surprising at all. Lexus just doesn't have a race pedigree.

ThierryHenry14 - 5/28/2008 2:21:25 PM

+1 Boost

If you do not want to put money into racing (repairs during the race) then why race at all?

Just a question to all those who thinks Toyota didnt want to push the LF-A too hard because its still a prototype...blah blah blah...

kpaxx - 5/27/2008 9:53:19 AM

-6 Boost

Loks like the LF-A is overhyped...I bet the GTR will be better than the LF-A.

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Bmw8ter - 5/27/2008 10:28:40 AM

+4 Boost

The LF-A sure is overhyped, with all of its participation in endurance events. I don't recall hearing about a (stock) GTR participating in any events.

The LF-A has all of the GTR's strengths with the exception of AWD. It has the same engine/transmission layout. Similar output. A high RPM engine that will probably produce a nice flat torque curve. All of these things wrapped in a lighter package.

S4cabriofoxone - 5/27/2008 11:42:43 AMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

There's one thing you're missing--a dual clutch gearbox. That is a major factor in the GT-R's speed.

Bmw8ter - 5/27/2008 12:16:04 PM

+5 Boost

I don't think anyone knows what kind of gearbox will be used. It's ranged from a version of the 8 speed gearbox from the IS-F, to a 7 speed manual. Who knows? It might very well come with a DSG.

2JayZee - 5/27/2008 1:34:12 PM

+1 Boost

Sequential transaxle

MaindrianPace - 5/27/2008 10:11:08 AM

+2 Boost

Driver Skill and luck are just as important when doing an endurance race, as out and out speed. Car reliability is also massively important. No point in being 10 seconds faster per lap if you have to spend 3 hours changing the gearbox!

Also remember there were about twelve classes, and very few factory entries... the wording in the article is mis-leading, the two BMW's in the top 10 were not factory efforts, they were privateer independants. The BM with strongest factory ties was the 320d of farfus and muller, which was an S2000D spec car getting in some race-testing for possible introduction into the WTCC.

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Agent009 - 5/27/2008 10:18:58 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

Actually the title is accurate, maybe the assumption that every entry is an official factory car is incorrect.

richardp996 - 5/27/2008 10:53:06 AM

+6 Boost

A good 90% of the entry list is a privateer effort. Even the teams running Porsches are not factory teams. They are indeed factory-backed, Manthey for example, because they are a costumer car.

MaindrianPace - 5/27/2008 11:14:24 AM

+3 Boost

I said the article's wording was mis-leading.. I didn't mention the title.

sector - 5/27/2008 10:59:54 AM

0 Boost

This is just about driver endurance, nothing to do with the capability of the car itself. Sort of like who can stay in the sauna the longest between a fat guy from weight watchers and a overly fit guy with 10% body fat that can bench 300lbs. The Fit guy may be strong but does not guarantee a win because fatty has lots of fat to burn and is a "regular" sauna guy and sauna connoisseur.

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enthusiastx11 - 5/27/2008 11:08:17 AM

+4 Boost

you are mistaken.

it has plenty to do with the durability of the car--particularly its ability to maintain its performance level over many hours.

richardp996 - 5/27/2008 11:21:49 AM

+5 Boost

The whole aspect of endurance racing is just that, endurance. The cars can break down or components can snap but the guys behind the wheel who do there two to three hour stints will get tired and sometimes make mistakes, which sometimes is a big deal on a narrow track like the Nurburgring where run-off is plenty mainly on the modern circuit.

It is easier said than done and I think a lot of people do not give the drivers enough credit for finishing the race. These cars do not drive themselves and lapping a circuit on steady pace consistently while passing much slower traffic takes a lot of concentration, which is very taxing on the driver.

MaindrianPace - 5/27/2008 12:13:41 PM

+5 Boost

Who here has been to an endurance race? I think they're excellent, the atmosphere is great. I've not done the 'ring 24hr, but I hope to next year, especially if there are M3 GT2's there (or B6 GT3's)..

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markanthony0419 - 5/27/2008 12:26:05 PM

-1 Boost

bmwh8ter one thing you forgot about the lfa and the gtr comparison very simply PRICE. lfa is estimated at 225k gtr is 75k so you can add that to your overhyped list too.

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mmeecc - 5/27/2008 12:50:20 PM

-3 Boost

Don't you think TOYOTA wanted to have a good showing at this race? With all the hype they've been trying create over the last years about this car, you know they hired good drivers and great technicians. And most of all, unlike some here are saying, money was NO object. The whole world is watching, the car will NEVER live up ti it's hype.

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F1_Driver - 5/27/2008 3:26:10 PM

+2 Boost

Maybe you can gaze into your crystal ball and tell me next week's winning lottery numbers?

RiceSucks - 5/27/2008 1:06:15 PM

-3 Boost

Just more proof that Toyota has no racing heritage.

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IS3andME - 5/27/2008 1:13:21 PM

+6 Boost

Last time I checked, the car is not even in production...so probalby Lexus is using all the enduro races as proving grounds for the engine, suspension, and overall performance...The object is not to win the damn race, but to test how all the components stack up in a real world driving and racing environment. Remeber it has a supposedly first in production (for a front engine car rear mounted cooling system. You have to see how thaat will stack up in a racing environment.

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sector - 5/27/2008 1:20:19 PM

-4 Boost

Toyota spends all its money on R&D and building quality, highly engineered vehicles for the road. Porsche on the hand's building the same vehicle for the last 40 years, hence lots of money to burn on stuff like this, besides Porsche needs to do well in these events in order to sell those highly impractical, engine in the wrong place, not worth the money, beetles :)

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w209w114 - 5/27/2008 1:39:41 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

After a comment like this anything further than comes out of you will be dubbed "garbage" no questions asked.

TurboSpyder - 5/27/2008 2:48:21 PMView My AgentSpace

+4 Boost

auto001, Porsche wins their class most every year at Le Mans with that "engine in the wrong place" layout. In fact, I bet that the Porsche 911 is by far the winning-est production/race car ever manufactured.

F1_Driver - 5/27/2008 3:29:44 PM

-3 Boost

Porsche dominates in Le Mans because none of the big boys, eg. BMW, MB, are there.

Heyhuub - 5/27/2008 4:20:31 PM

+4 Boost

None of the big boys are there because they don't dare to take on Porsche.

ThierryHenry14 - 5/29/2008 12:48:53 AM

+2 Boost

why would someone doubt Porsche's success? With over 43000 race victories, they have nothing else to prove...

2JayZee - 5/27/2008 1:40:50 PM

+5 Boost

"much hyped LF-A" ......

Much hyped by who? I can't really recall anyone claiming the car was going to destroy all comers, Lexus themselves said that the car was being entered for development purposes and that they didn't expect to win anything.

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nsu_med - 5/27/2008 5:00:46 PM

+3 Boost

This article is leaving out a lot of info. The Lexus was entered for R&D purposes only. It was in the pits for 3 hours early on. By the same faulty logic put forth by some comments here, Aston Martin must REALLY SUCK.

Aston Martin entered a DBRS9 prototype for R&D purposes as well. This car finished behind the Lexus, coming in last in the SP8 class as well as DEAD LAST position number 150. This Aston Martin is a prototype of a RACE car, while the LF-A is a prototype of a future road car (modified only to meet technical/safety regulations of the race). Are you all going to say Aston Martin has no heritage or pedigree now???

Please, I invite a logical answer from you all.

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olscuul - 5/27/2008 7:39:40 PM

+1 Boost

i'd like to see the racing budget for those 2.

sigmabody - 5/27/2008 5:12:50 PM

+5 Boost

I'm sure Lexus knew they were going to have to deal with a certain amount of criticism from various online outlets when they put the LF-A in the race for testing and development purposes, even though they weren't really competing, just endurance testing with free publicity. Fortunately for them, most of the people bashing their racing results accurately come off as elitist idiots, so they are fairly easily marginalized. Whereas the people defending Lexus's showing come off as rational, thoughtful, intelligent people, who's comments will appeal to Toyota's target market for Lexus.

All in all, I'd say a win for the Lexus marketing department.

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Heyhuub - 5/28/2008 6:25:49 AM

+1 Boost

The last time a GT-R entered it placed..... well it didn't finish.

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