Thread: Video: Ferrari 458 Italia on the racetrack at Auto Club Speedway

Here is a montage of Gary Brutsch's fast laps in his 458. He wasn't pushing the car that hard since it's new and all. Still, Gary made a couple sub 2:00 lap times on the speedways ROVAL road course. We will be going over the GPS telemetry data with Gary and this will show him all of the areas where he can safely push the car harder, afterall, you really don't want to drive the car over your ability until there is time to build up to the cars limits. It's a beautiful car, enjoy the video.

Kent
Canyon Run Videos

How fast did he go up to in the bank? Assuming 160 to 170? for a 458

I would not assume anything near 160 mph in turns one and two. The NASCAR Sprint Cup cars are doing 180 in those turns but no street car with street tires can stick to the track at those speeds in the corners. Remember, the 458 is a $235,000 sports car and if you happen to get a flat tire in going say about 140 mph into turn one at Auto Club Speedway your pretty sports car will go straight into the wall. OUCH!!!

145 coming into turn 1 and holding steady through the bank into 2 at around 105.

Pretty sure I was out on track with that guy last time I was at ACS. Not too many black 458's, and from the video, he's running roughly about as far off the line as I remember seeing. With some more instruction I'm sure that car can turn some good sub-2 minute laps.

Those banks don't do nearly for street cars what they do for cup cars. I was starting to rotate and fade up at 115 on the bank and it's probably the most frightening thing I've felt in awhile, lol. I was knocking on 160 though before coming into turn 1. I saw 155 several times, but with inherent fade of stock C6 brakes, I wasn't comfy going any deeper for the number.

Originally Posted by plastique999

How fast did he go up to in the bank? Assuming 160 to 170? for a 458

P cars and Corvettes can hit 160, so I'd assume the 458 could go faster as it's performance is way above these cars.
In my Lotus Elise and 211 I'd be touching 140 which is close to topping the motor off in these small 1.8 l's.

I think we're referencing different things. Are you talking about the long sweeping bank on the finish line side of the track along the pits, or are you talking about actually being in the turn?

In the turn, Vettes and Porches are nowhere near 160 in turns 1 and 2. Not even close. I've been in SCCA T1 Pro cars on Hoosiers that are only holding 135-140 there. I get away from stock C6 Z06's pretty well in my car (about 40 more hp, better tires, better aero, lighter) and 155-160 is all I can get coming into turn 1. As you fade down you have to scrub a good 40-50mph before you're into the full bank.

And agreed, the 458 is a performer, but at a track like Fontana, it certainly isn't "way above" those cars. The 458 outweighs the Vettes by about 150 pounds, and while the 60hp advantage helps there, the 100+ lb/ft torque disadvantage shows when they're between apexes. I might even say that on average, a stock C6Z will turn slightly faster times around Fontana than a 458 will, driver for driver.

Dupe post.

As an example, here's a ZR1 out at ACS. Coming into turn one, he's just knocking on 160, and the car is being hustled pretty well up onto the oval. Had he had more exit speed coming off of 21, the car would have just stepped past 160. Even on sport cups, through turns 1 and 2, he's only holding 120-ish, and that's quite fast.

Originally Posted by plastique999

P cars and Corvettes can hit 160, so I'd assume the 458 could go faster as it's performance is way above these cars.
In my Lotus Elise and 211 I'd be touching 140 which is close to topping the motor off in these small 1.8 l's.

Your numbers are good for entering turn one but by the time you are going into turn two the speed in the Z06 and the ZR1 Corvettes did videos for were going 121 mph and 126 mph right in the middle of one and two. Even with radical negative camber setup for roadracing the camber alignment is not enough to allow those cars to grip the racetrack anything close to 160 mph. I have all of the GPS telemetry for my videos so I can check the speed of my clients cars at any point on the track.

Kent
Canyon Run Videos

Yes I am talking about top speed in the bank....exiting 21, into T1, right as you cross the start/finish line you are approaching top speed. In my Lotus Elise (slicks), I was hitting around 137 mph, and it was definitely hairy. Of course in T2 you scrub speed, but I would still be flat out in the Elise. Granted, I had full aero/kit and suspension....but Corvettes and P-cars could pass me in T, so I assume they are getting very close to 160.
It seems to me that the 458 would be superb on track out of the box....meaning good suspension, certainly has aero, and of course the hp.

It seems to me the ZR1 is letting up on the throttle too much into T2....just my $.02.