Nowadays it's much easier to centralize data, so, in theory, on-paper on-screen racing should be much closer to real world results compared to the gap separating the two forms of high-octane battle back in the day. Well, as the piece of footage at the bottom of the page demonstrates, one should never trust numbers alone, no matter how resourceful these seem.
The clip takes us to the Nurburgring, where the GP Stecke (the main straight of the GP course) was recently used for a series of drag races - note that the resulting battleground allowed drivers to go for a 31 mph (50 km/h) rolling start, while offering a length of 984 feet (300 meters).
The main actor was a Porsche 911 GT3 RS PDK, whose driver decided to take on much more powerful machines. We're talking about a 991.1 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet, but one whose 560 hp factory output had jumped to 630 PS thanks to an ECU remap.
There was also a Mercedes-AMG GT S, but you can forget all about the 510 stock hp number. Instead, the Affalterbach toy had been pushed all the way to 690 ponies.
Oh, and let's not forget about an also-tuned C7 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, which kept its 659 PS factory output.
Since we've dropped so many figures, we'll carry on this path, with the uploader of the video letting us know how the races ended: "Oddly enough, on the 300m dragstrip, the GT3 RS reached 189kph (117mph) and the Turbo S reached exactly the same speed! The GT3RS then took on a Corvette C7 Z06 (it hit 187kph, 116mph) and a modified Mercedes AMG GTS with 690HP. This car was a bit faster, it hit a speed of 191kph (119mph),"
So, what are the possible causes for the Rennsport Neunelfer's stunning performance? Well, the 500 hp GT3 RS might be configured for lap times, not drag races, but the combination of the rolling start and the limited distance meant these runs replicated your usual track sprints, with the model's PDK gearing being perfect for the occasion.
If the races had been considerably longer, we would've probably seen the hp and torque premium of the Porscha's competitors give them the edge - we've recently shown you a similar situation, with the hostilities also taking place in Germany, but on an airfield.
So next time when a tuned vehicle owner brags about hp numbers, remember that he's talking about top end performance, whose real life equivalent isn't as simple to put to work as it might seem.
In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News