In late March we brought you two of the challenges that pitted TV star and road racer Guy Martin against F1 legend David Coulthard, and now it's time for more. The two continue having fun at the iconic Silverstone circuit in England, with a slalom race and a braking test. And just like the last time, it's all about good-spirited track fun and not about who's better.
One of the new challenges was a brake test, with the two lapping around Silverstone and going shoulder to shoulder at 100 mph (160 km/h) over the start-finish line, which was set as their brake point. As they roll across the finish line, Guy and David must do what they see fit to stop as quickly as possible.
It was no surprise watching Coulthard's F1 Red Bull car winning this showdown, stopping a good one second faster and 24 meters (79 ft) shorter than Martin's BMW S1000RR. Basic math and physics explain why an F1 car will always be better at stopping than any motorcycle.
The contact patch of a bike's tires is roughly the size of two credit cards, whereas an F1 car wheel is in contact with the asphalt on a surface that's around the same area as a medium dinner plate. A car has four such wheels, each with large brake discs and very powerful brakes, and even more, a car can lock all its wheels and still remain safe.
A bike cannot afford to lose the already poor (compared to the car) contact with the ground. As for locking wheels, these are the shortest way to cause a crash. Car wins.
However, when it comes to the slalom challenge, the car's size is the biggest handicap. Not even the massive power, grippy new front tires, and Coulthard's epic driving skills can make a difference - the F1 Red Bull car is simply too large to make a stand against the sleek motorcycle.
On the other hand, Guy Martin's BMW S1000RR effortlessly navigates the cones, with the rider barely moving the handlebars and shifting his body weight to steer the bike. The narrow profile of the two-wheeler and its significantly shorter length allow Martin to beat Coulthard in the slalom test by a hefty margin.
Even so, far from being a who's who contest, the "F1 vs Superbike trials" explains a lot about the particularities of both machines, and we enjoyed watching the whole thing quite a lot. Hope you do so, too.
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