Were not comparing apples to oranges hear, look around the "EVO's" lap times (+/- 10 seconds) and you won't see anything that shouldn't be there, for instance you won't see a basic WRX with some exceptional run that beats out an EVO, it's time is where it seems it should be in comparison with others in it's lap time zone. Many HP listings are also in the post and it's true that the high HP cars usually represent better times but not always. But than again we don't compare Porsche GT's or McLaren's to the EVO either, I supplied a broad lap time listing for a sense of scale.

And true, tires are a factor but remember that there is no one tire that works best for all cars. Weather and season is also a big factor at the ring, many runs show an asterisk declaring "wet run" or other. While there are some "specials" listed here I believe the Ring to be a true real world setting that yields "average" capabilities of an OEM mass market car.

 

Look at the C6Z06 up there with the big guns! Love that car!

 

Oh wow, thats a pretty big list!

I think the EVO would be higher up on the list if it could go a bit faster. On that back straightaway before the finish you can make up some time and the EVO doesn't top out as high as some of the big guns like the Zondas, Porsches and Lambos.

 

I'd say that even between talented drivers time differences even with same car are easily over 10 seconds, maybe even more. It's afterall 20 km! Obviously if someone drives some car around the ring under 8 minutes, then you can advertise that this car is in the 7's.

My point was that this list is useless. There has been numerous different drivers in even more numerous weather etc. conditions driving around the ring, that doesn't tell much of performance of a certain car.

 

and with that ^, i'll say, Top Gear should have Stig run different cars on the Ring, the way they do at their airport track.

 

The spec C is an awesome vehicle, but you can't compare the regular IX to it. You need to move up to the FQ 320 or 340 as the spec C has 320+ hp. As everyone else has said different drivers, track conditions affect times on a relatively long track. I have seen times of the Evo IX under 8 min on that track...If I could rememebr where I saw it or which model IX.hmmm

 

Maybe for one special this would work (although I don't think the Stig is very familiar with the track). It would be too expensive to do this on a regular basis, though, obviously.