918 vs P1 at Laguna Seca - MotorTrend





918 (Michelin Pilot Super Cup 2): 1:29.89
P1 (Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R): 1:30.71(+00:00.82)


918 Spyder – 4 laps in total:
1. Warm up lap – 2.01.30;
2. Charging lap – 1.44;
3. Record lap – 1.29.89!
4. Last lap – 1.30.76.


P1 – 8 laps in total:
1. Warm up – 1.54;
2. Charging – 1.42;
3. Record attempt – 1.31.67;
4. Charging – 1.43!!!;
5. Record lap – 1.30.71;
6. Charging – 1.41!!!
7. Record attempt – 1.31.07;
8. Final lap – 1.54


"McLaren was happy to send technical support, and Porsche supplied a 918, but Ferrari refused to grant permission for hot laps and data acquisition to the owner of the car we had lined up."


"For the sake of fairness, we fueled up both cars at the same pump, and Tire Rack supplied factory-spec rolling stock for both cars. On the P1 went the most aggressive tires owners can get from the factory: Pirelli P Zero Trofeo Rs, which came heat-cycled. The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 is the only tire option for the 918, and Porsche opted against heat-cycling."

 

918 (Michelin Pilot Super Cup 2) 1.640 kg / 887 HP / >800 Nm (max. 1275 Nm) / LT 1:29.89
P1 . (Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R) ...- 1.490 kg / 916 HP / 900 Nm ....................... / LT 1:30.71 (+0,82 sec)

Seems that 916 HP RWD without Formula 1 rear wing for sufficient downforce is not optimal ?
Would like to see "P1-AWD" with add. 3 carbon transmission shafts and 25% HP at front axle.

 

regardless what the numbers say, I find it very hard to believe the 918 bet the P1. It's a know fact the the 918 is slower than the P1 and Laferrari.

So I'm blaming this on the driver of the P1.

 

Watching the diagram it seems an 918 advantage at low speed and cornering. The P1 works at high speed when the rear wing begin to produce downforce. So on average high speed race tracks, the P1 wins, but the P1 should also be faster in cornering because of less weight, perhaps an agressive throttle may ruin that advantage.
I can imagine, an light weight 4WD would makes the P1 faster around a race track. Power is/was never a problem. 1988 was the last year of the mighty turbo cars which produced nearly 1500 hp in qualifying out of Ayrton Sennas 1,5L V6 Honda engine.
Randy Pobst is a Pro Race Driver and I guess, it wasn't his mistake. If he cant max the P1, then there is something wrong.

"Tires squeal as Pobst comes around. The car starts to slide, and you can see Pobst fighting the wheel. He gets it centered and storms over the straight. The engine revs flare up as the P1 goes over the hill -- wheelspin. It happens on the next lap. And again."
2015 McLaren P1 vs. 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Comparison - Motor Trend Page 2

 

All good points and you make a excellent argument, though not wanting to sound defensive but would the P1 not make up the time with faster acceleration at exciting at 5 to 7 and exciting 11 to 2? Corners 6 and 1 seems easy enough that require no braking.

 

MotorTrend? And you are arguing about some cars you did not get an allocation for?

If either of you want a 918 PM me. Market value has stepped up.

 

Yes and did and one can see that the P1 pull away from the 918 on the slightly longer straights after turn 5, 6 and 11 and in theory, the P1 should be faster in cornering too, because of better sticky tires and less weight. Test* results show for the Pirelli Trofeo R min. 1 sec faster on a 1 minute track than the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2.
But the 918 is faster in cornering, that means, R. Pobst is able to give more throttle for acceleration in corners before wheelspin. Seems that splitting the power on 4 wheels is in that case better than give all to the rear, because there is not enough downforce at P1 rear at lower speed to prevent snap oversteer.
The P1 front tires have lot's of grip reserve while the rear tires are finished. May be the 918 brings all 4 wheels to the grip limit.

That's why I think, ~1000HP RWD without big F1 rear wing make not really sense and for an every days car is AWD in several conditions a big advantage: www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_z2016EGRI

* [430] Trofeo R or Sport Cup 2 on 430 Scuderia? - FerrariChat.com
* www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrLQpAt5Mes

 

I can't believe Ferrari is acting like a litte b!tch about a proper head-to-head race between the 3 hyper cars.

All cars are sold, it won't harm their salesfigures or image. They are all 3 stupid fast, it's all about personal preferences...

 

Video from MotorTrend

 

It is interesting to see that McLaren Staff changes so much tires etc. to arrange a better result but it did not work.