Veterans Motörhead, Black Sabbath top UK metal awards
 
pic

The Wheel Deal

Fixing you up with life in the fast lane.
 

Ferrari 599XX rules at The Nürburgring

Posted: April 23rd, 2010 | By Thomas Falkiner


Ferrari 599XX

The Ferrari 599XX has claimed a new production car record at Germany’s revered Nürburgring race track. With test driver Raffaele De Simone behind the wheel, Maranello’s latest and greatest stormed around the circuit to set a mightily impressive lap-time of 6.58.16. But before you and the rest of the Tifosi get too excited, it’s important to note that the 599XX in question was fitted with racing slicks as apposed to regular high-performance street tyres. And what’s more, the 599XX isn’t road legal and consequently had to be trailered to the track to avoid being booked by the German Police. So although it’s certainly production car-derived, the 599XX is still not a true production car. You’ve got to ask the question then, does this record bear any worth? Especially considering that the 100% street legal Radical SR8LM cracked a 6:48 at The Ring last year August. Watch the video and make up your own mind…

  
 
 

Comments

 

Sean

April 25, 2010 at 4:04 pm

Question: You say “the Ferrari 599XX has claimed a new production car record at Germany’s revered Nürburgring race track”
Then you go on to say that the Radical SR8LM posted a time that was 10 seconds faster, last year. So how is the Ferrari’s lap time a new record?

 

Thomas Falkiner

April 25, 2010 at 9:01 pm

@ Sean: The 599XX bags the record because it’s production car-derived, i.e. based on the actual 599 GTB Fiorano. The Radical SR8LM on the other hand cannot be technically classified as production car-derived as it’s built from the ground up to be an out-and-out track machine. But, interestingly enough, even though it looks like an LMP2 Class sports car, the Radical can be licensed to drive on public roads. Although I doubt, lacking any real weather proofing, anyone would want to do this. So, to conclude, being based on a recognisable road car, the Fezza wins. It’s just interesting to note that the Radical can be driven on public roads. Hope this clears up the question…

 

Grant

April 26, 2010 at 1:03 pm

I do not believe that this records is worth anything until the car is deemed road legal – with the proper tyres. Actually not even worth reporting on.

Leave a Comment




 

  • About

    Thomas Falkiner is the motoring writer for both the Sunday Times and Times newspapers. When not rolling around in the hottest sheet metal, he can most probably be found racing his 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback in the Midas Historic Tour.