Amateur video of lap at N?rburgring

The following is a video taken this fall of a lap at N�rburgring in a GT3 by Ulf Karlsson during a public session: <a href="http://vanadium.prg.dtu.dk/~pmc/andersj/200209_GT3_745.WMV" target="_blank">Ulf Karlsson GT3 7:45 BTG</a> The time is 7:45 BTG. �Bridge to Gentry� is used because flying laps are not possible during public open days. To convert this to a full lap time you would need to add about 23-24 seconds. If you then wanted to compare this to Walter R�hrl�s record time of 7:56 you would probably also want to add about 10 more seconds to Ulf�s time as Ulf was on Pirelli Corsa tyres while R�hrl was on stock street tyres. So slower than R�hrl but still the fastest I�ve ever seen in a GT3. Which makes me wonder how R�hrl is able to do it. The lap is especially notable because there is absolutely no other traffic � very rare at a public session. This video first appeared on the Ringers list. Anyone wishing to mirror this video is welcome to do so. Note that the size is 109MB and the bitrate 1500 so you will need a broadband connection to download it and a pretty fast computer to watch it. No guarantee on how long it will be available. Happy motoring!! S.

Downloading it now, will be able to watch in 40 minutes and find it really interesting. Since I plan on going to the ring I try to find every film of the lap so I won't be completely lost once I get there. Cheers!

[quote]Originally posted by sweanders: <strong> Since I plan on going to the ring I try to find every film of the lap so I won't be completely lost once I get there. </strong><hr></blockquote> Don't worry, you'll still be completely lost! It takes years to really learn the track. There are wet lines and dry lines and places where the tarmac is bumpy and has to be avoided and places where there is no traction. Plus the track is optically designed to confuse. When you first go there you'll find yourself hard on the brakes when everyone else is flat out around you. The most difficult track in the world beyond a doubt. But fun! Hope you enjoy yourself. S.

On the Ringers list I asked Ulf to compare this lap to Walter R�hrl's record setting lap. I thought his reply might interest those who have viewed the video: [quote] Why is Walter R�hrl faster than I am? A good question where there are many explanations to be found. Some major ones are that he is a World Champion, he does drive daily for his living and he does not drive his own cars. I drive seldom and only for my own pleasure in my own car. I also drive with a safety margin, which not is proper for e.g. race speed. To my time 7:45 BTG, about 24 seconds extra should be added to make a complete lap time. This gives 8:09 in lap time. Walter R�hrl made the complete lap in 7:56. I drove on R-tyres although my set was on their last living time. This gives me although an advantage in a number of seconds. Horst von Saurma drove on 8:03 on the shortened lap, which Sport Auto uses. I don�t know how much time he gains with this. Where is Walter R�hrl faster than me? I think he is a little bit faster everywhere. My own feeling for my 7:45-lap (speeds are taken from the speedometer which not is calibrated) is: � Not much to do in Hatzenbach � Should be slightly faster over Quiddelbacher H�he and through Flugplatz � Should be slightly faster in Schwedenkreuz, it should be taken with a very fine tuned slide, I had 255 km/h before turn in � Not much to do in Fuchsr�hre � Not much to do through Metzgesfeld and down Kallenhard and Wehrseifen � Not much do to over the bridge in Adenau and through Laudakurve � A little bit later braking before Bergwerk � Should be faster through Mutkurve, 235 km/h before and 181 km/h after the bend � Not much to do through the Karusell and up over Hohe Acht � Should be slightly faster through Wipperman � Not much to do in Esbach, Br�nnchen and Eiskurve � Should be slightly faster through Pflantzgarten I � Not much to over Sprungh�gel and through Scwalbenschwantz � Should be slightly faster over Galgenkopf. In general it was a very pleasant lap and I enjoyed it a lot! It was no risk taking and I had no incidents. How much faster can I drive? I don�t know. In the 24 hrs race in June I drove on 10:06 in race traffic with a 911 GT3 Cup with slick tyres on. That is for a complete lap including the new longer GP circuit. It should be about 7:50-7:55 for a complete lap on the Northern loop I think. Hopefully I will take part in the 2003 event in a 911 GT3 RS. It is the most lovely race car to drive. The response from the chassie and the song from the engine is unbelievable. I took part in the Vallelunga 6 hrs race some weeks ago in such a one. We ended up 6th overall and third in our class FIA N-GT. Most enjoyable I must say. I guess some of you Ringers have some comments! Bets regards, Ulf Karlsson <hr></blockquote> Ringers is a forum for those that frequent the N�rburgring. S.