The french magazine "Sport Auto" recently tested the new Mercedes SLS AMG at Le Mans with some interesting data.
The car was measured at 600 hp...
First, the driver was Sébastien Bourdais the 4 times Champcar winner.
Second, the speeds were recorded at different points on the track
Third, I recorded the speeds of my own LoveFab NSX at the same places.
Here's the data : SLS vs NSX
Lap time : 1'53"57 vs 1'57 i.e. 3 seconds faster
Top speeds:
Dunlop bend entry: 228 kph vs 213 ( not bad with 200 hp less!)
La Chapelle ( off camber 180° turn) 79 vs 98 (slicks do help!)
Le musée ( 180° turn) 83 vs 83 ( driver compensates slicks?)
Chemin aux boeufs entry:212 vs 205 ( power!)
S du garage bleu entry:181 vs 162 ( not sure it was taken exactly at the same place but I probably do something wrong in this difficult S bend)
S. Bourdais thought the SLS had a good engine and good brakes but was too heavy .
On my side I believe the times could be improved also by lowering the weight of my road going NSX...but all in all 3 seconds behind the fastest Merc driven by an ex F1 driver with a 15 year old car is not too bad!
By the way the Audi R8 V10 is slower at 1'53"96...
The car was measured at 600 hp...
First, the driver was Sébastien Bourdais the 4 times Champcar winner.
Second, the speeds were recorded at different points on the track
Third, I recorded the speeds of my own LoveFab NSX at the same places.
Here's the data : SLS vs NSX
Lap time : 1'53"57 vs 1'57 i.e. 3 seconds faster
Top speeds:
Dunlop bend entry: 228 kph vs 213 ( not bad with 200 hp less!)
La Chapelle ( off camber 180° turn) 79 vs 98 (slicks do help!)
Le musée ( 180° turn) 83 vs 83 ( driver compensates slicks?)
Chemin aux boeufs entry:212 vs 205 ( power!)
S du garage bleu entry:181 vs 162 ( not sure it was taken exactly at the same place but I probably do something wrong in this difficult S bend)
S. Bourdais thought the SLS had a good engine and good brakes but was too heavy .
On my side I believe the times could be improved also by lowering the weight of my road going NSX...but all in all 3 seconds behind the fastest Merc driven by an ex F1 driver with a 15 year old car is not too bad!
By the way the Audi R8 V10 is slower at 1'53"96...
