| lap time? Nissan did not take credit for that time (they sure would have if it was for real)..... Those times were estimated by camera folk on prototype cars.... sideline camera-man timing is neither substantial nor authentic. The GTR that created this speculated 7:38 buzz was not a standard trimmed model; to even be able to get a time like that on Nordschleife, the car would have to be lighter, with more power on better tires (the nurburgring (nbr) prototype definately didn't have street tires- I remember the NBR paddock pictures showing a much different aggressive tire on the car (like a yoko race tire) instead of the OE bridgestones we will get with the car here). The Porsche 911 Turbo that mustered a 7:42 time around NBR was on Michelin Pilot Sport CUP COMPETITION tires (big grip difference for those who do not have formal racing experience with these tires)! If they ever do this time, officially, it will probably be a modded Evo version of the GT-R on competition tires (read: not stock). I think the whole setup was a ringer car used by Nissan's marketing group to stir up "unofficial" publicity (which is probably why they didn't acknowledge times so they have liability for a standard GTR not being able to achieve those times). There is no way a standard GTR will come that close to a time of the Carrera GT driven by Walter Rorhl, also on its stock Michelin Pilot Sport CUP tires. Regarding the Z06 lap time (7:42), the driver Jan Magnussen did one real hot lap in the car before he became too scared to try again. He acknowledged that the car was faster but he did not feel like doing any more laps at the speeds the Z06 was capable of, since he was on OE STREET TIRES with no additional aero. He said the car was too fast and got airborne too many times in his lap without a rear wing or better tires. I'll tell you from experience, street Michelin Pilot Sports are better than my stock Goodyear F1 Supercar runflats on my Z06. On a 1:30-2 minute roadcourse (2ish mile), Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires are good for at least 5-7 seconds over regular Michelin Pilot Sport or PS2 street tires.
On a 13 mile course like the NBR, the effect multiplies out tremendously. I wouldn't be surprised that if the tires were kept the same on all three cars (rest staying stock), that the Z06 will be close to 8-10 seconds faster with the same qualified driver over both the GTR and 911 turbo.
Cheers, Salah Aztec Red 300ZX Twin Turbo
Schwarz II BMW 750iL
Black Chevrolet Corvette C6 Z06 
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