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

XeroK00L submitted on 10/19/2007 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 4:24 PM
from: www.autoblog.com

[31] user comments | category: Misc News

Tags: mclaren mercedes slr 722 gt nurburgring lap time race racing

mclaren mercedes slr 722 gt nurburgring lap time race racing

Mercedes' uber sports car, the McLaren SLR 722 GT, has been caught at the 'ring undergoing final testing for the 20-odd cars that are expected to be delivered to a very lucky few early next year. A pre-production model was spotted at the start of the month in Germany and this is likely to be the same car seen here.

According to Auto Motor und Sport, the new hyper-performance Mac Daddy managed to complete the notorious Nurburgring Nordschleife or 'Northern Loop' in a blistering 7m 38s, but apparently can go even faster. 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. Further tests will continue between the 20th and 24th of this month near the village of Le Castellet in France.

The car features the same 650hp supercharged V8 from the 'regular' SLR 722 but has been put through an extensive weight saving program, which sees almost 660 lbs. shed from the vehicle's curb weight. It's thought this new model has been developed as a homologation special for an upcoming FIA GT race car ,but no official word has been given. Read Article

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ThierryHenry14 - 10/19/2007 5:18:29 PM

+3 Boost

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

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gothemi8 - 10/19/2007 7:21:56 PM

0 Boost

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.

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Atenza28 - 10/19/2007 7:56:50 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

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.

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Atenza28 - 10/19/2007 7:58:49 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

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.

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EnvyofyouRS5 - 10/20/2007 12:12:53 AM

0 Boost

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.

Not That Guy
Society of the summer sessions CEO
Jaime

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Czelinski - 10/19/2007 4:59:04 PM

0 Boost

"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.

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SevorbeupstryIsBack - 10/19/2007 5:20:27 PM

+4 Boost

Exactly, enough said.

If all goes well, it should crack the Ring in well under 7:30!

Threepoint1415926 - 10/19/2007 5:21:36 PM

+2 Boost

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.

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gsh23 - 10/19/2007 8:59:46 PM

+5 Boost

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.

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bclemans - 10/20/2007 2:38:14 AM

+2 Boost

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.

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nembogt - 10/20/2007 3:50:49 AM

0 Boost

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.

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Czelinski - 10/20/2007 5:03:15 AM

+1 Boost

"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.

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EL34 - 10/20/2007 11:27:37 AM

-1 Boost

Now we're just waiting to see photos of the GT-R without camo panels on :)

GTR35 - 10/21/2007 5:47:32 PMView My AgentSpace

+4 Boost

Who is bashing on who? All you have to do is be a car enthusiast and admire the GTR potential; instead, you ignore it and bash it only because the car is made by the Japanese. That says alot how you define "reality" over being a brat German fan boy.

Bill - 10/20/2007 9:41:16 AM

-1 Boost

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.

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nembogt - 10/20/2007 10:07:12 AM

-1 Boost

very true. ludwig has more laps turned there than anyone who is still active i believe. he'd be the guy though to make a car a star or a zero.

GTR35 - 10/20/2007 2:29:36 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

I just love to hear you people cry. Admit it, and stop making excuses of why the SLR is slower than the GTR.

Czelinski - 10/20/2007 2:35:58 PM

-1 Boost

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.

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PintoRacer - 10/20/2007 11:42:30 PM

+1 Boost

So what you're saying is that McLaren engineering is not top of the line and they can't even make a good transmision. No matter what excuse they come up with the time clearly says that the Nissan is faster.

utahnkid - 10/20/2007 9:19:16 PM

+2 Boost

Wow.. you guys can find things to argue about in ANY article. Some guy in a Mclaren SLR 722 just went around the ring and posted a relatively quick time. End of story, nothing to see here.

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Czelinski - 10/21/2007 5:01:28 AM

+1 Boost

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.

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chewy - 10/21/2007 3:57:38 PMView My AgentSpace

-2 Boost

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

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Lexus - 10/22/2007 12:59:07 AM

+1 Boost

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....

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ThierryHenry14 - 10/22/2007 5:31:31 PM

+1 Boost

If the GT-R was an infiniti, it will be an infiniti, and it still will not be compared with an MB.

What makes luxury is as open-ended and rhetorical as what defines being rich? Its in the eyes of the beholder, and it is based on every single aspect, from built quality, to name, to features, to price, and even to marketing.

I for one, do not believe there are "luxury" cars under 80k, but others seem to believe in the contrary. Its just up to the person looking at it.

Czelinski - 10/22/2007 4:45:48 AM

+2 Boost

"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!

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ThierryHenry14 - 10/22/2007 5:34:00 PM

+1 Boost

please tell me Czelinski...

Why can't these people understand that the SLR and GT-R are built with different intent, purpose, target market, and quality?

Do you think these people are jealous of those who can afford an SLR, or do you think that they are just trying for attention?

Czelinski - 10/23/2007 3:48:40 AM

+1 Boost

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.

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