Race-spec'd Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR 722 GT does 7'38" on the Nurburgring

WOW. surprised you missed the part that it says the same 650hp supercharged V8.

— ThierryHenry14 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/19/2007 5:18:29 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

722 referes to the time the previous Mercedes SLR race car started the 24 Heures Du Mans. Cant remeber the exact details but thats the jist of the story. No im not talking about the current verious Mercedes Benz SLR Mclaren there was a previous SLR wayyyy back when.

— gothemi8 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/19/2007 7:21:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

WOW, even more surprised that it's still not common car enthusiast knowledge that 722 has nothing to do with hp and has to do with honoring the Silver Arrows at Mille Miglia.
7:22am was the start time of that event.

— Atenza28 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/19/2007 7:56:50 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

heh, came in a little late there, actually a lot late. That's what I get for opening all the articles from this site that I want to read at one time and then commenting later.

— Atenza28 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/19/2007 7:58:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Heh i like how your probably just added that 722 HP just to get more comments on your article, lol. Good play. As for the Merc 722 GT, the better choice is to take a Zonda R. For obvious reasons no real enthusiast would need to state.

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— EnvyofyouRS5 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/20/2007 12:12:53 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

"Driving on the test day was McLaren test pilot Chris Goodwin, who was forced to take it slower than usual because of problems with the transmission."

Enough said.

— Czelinski (View Profile)

Posted on 10/19/2007 4:59:04 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

I'm glad to see the SLR built up and used to its potential. All the essentials were there, just too much GT stuff getting in the way to be an obscenely fast track car. Now we get to see what happens when its legs are stretched.

— Threepoint1415926 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/19/2007 5:21:36 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

7:38? jeez, mb has a long way to go to catch up to the zonda F. this time makes the GTR even more impressive.

— gsh23 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/19/2007 8:59:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

Correct me if I am wrong, I thought I read somewhere that this car still uses the old 5-speed auto box rather than Mercedes new 7-speed box (well, at least 2 years now). Of course Benz has an excuse and said that the 7-speed cannot handle the massive amount of torque. It also has 3 valves per cylinder (interestingly, Benz switched to 3 valves per cylinder when most manufacturers went with 4 valves). Anyway, Benz finally switch its design philosophy and is going with 4 valves going forward.

— bclemans (View Profile)

Posted on 10/20/2007 2:38:14 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

wow, i knew that there was gonna be that one reference to the GT-R to come up. numbers are impressive but the build quality is nowhere near the 722. I'm actually really curious in seeing the car run with its legs stretched and with Klaus Ludwig behind the wheel. I honestly dont find 2 seconds to be impressive at all with a vehicle in full race trim. Hopefully they work out the kinks. Looking forward to perhaps an obscene 7:28.

— nembogt (View Profile)

Posted on 10/20/2007 3:50:49 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

"7:38? jeez, mb has a long way to go to catch up to the zonda F. this time makes the GTR even more impressive."

I don't think people read.

"Driving on the test day was McLaren test pilot Chris Goodwin, who was forced to take it slower than usual because of problems with the transmission."

You fanboys amuse me, clearly states why it wasn;t as quick as it could be. But of course, any chance to bash Mercedes or infact the Germans and praise the Japanese is taken. Pathetic.

— Czelinski (View Profile)

Posted on 10/20/2007 5:03:15 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Another thing to remember is that different drivers will achieve different times in the same cars, no matter how good they are. If Michael Schumacher drove this SLR on the 'Ring later followed by Fernando Alonso in the same car, you can bet that they would both post different lap times.

— Bill (View Profile)

Posted on 10/20/2007 9:41:16 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

It's not an excuse, please learn to read.

""Driving on the test day was McLaren test pilot Chris Goodwin, who was forced to take it slower than usual because of problems with the transmission."

This is the 3rd time and is becming boring, quit being an idiot and accept that the time posted is not the best. It clearly states why it isn't as quick as it could have been. Now pull your head out of Nissan's arse and look at reality.

— Czelinski (View Profile)

Posted on 10/20/2007 2:35:58 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Pinto, every car has problems. Especially one with such power. For all you know the GT-R had problems as well, and probably did. It just hasn't been announced.

— Czelinski (View Profile)

Posted on 10/21/2007 5:01:28 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Ring time are extremely variable

1. weather/conditions
2. street tires/"legal" race tires/flat out slicks
3. driver, magazine writer/test driver/race car driver

I am sure a 10 second difference can easily occur because of 1-3, if not even more

— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 10/21/2007 3:57:38 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

The MaClaren SLR cost about $500,000 U.S. Dollar and does 7:38 on this track? Pretty pathetic if you ask me, when being compare to the Nissan GTR which run the lap in 7:35 and maybe lower.

Imagine when upper model GTR with 550hp would do on the lap, maybe in the lower 7:20?

Godzilla is back baby, and back with a vengence....LOL.....he...he....

— Lexus (View Profile)

Posted on 10/22/2007 12:59:07 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

"The MaClaren SLR cost about $500,000 U.S. Dollar and does 7:38 on this track?"

Here goes the 4th time...

"Driving on the test day was McLaren test pilot Chris Goodwin, who was forced to take it slower than usual because of problems with the transmission."

Enough said, seems like my first post. And also, I won't stop posting this until you Japanese fanboys realise why it's so slow. When the transmission is sorted, goodbye GT-R. And plus, cost tbh has no deeciding factor. If you can afford an SLR, you look at Lamborgini and Ferrari, NOT Nissan!

— Czelinski (View Profile)

Posted on 10/22/2007 4:45:48 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

I have no idea ThierryHenry14 (BTW, best player in the world :) ), I think it may be a combination of the two. Either way, they need to grow up and except the Japanese are not the rulers of the industry, and don't do everything better than the Germans. It is infact the opposite, for luxury cars.

— Czelinski (View Profile)

Posted on 10/23/2007 3:48:40 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1