cainchapman 0 Report post Posted April 30, 2007 Awesome! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkS0_wz_-IU Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Denny Crane Report post Posted April 30, 2007 Lap time? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cainchapman 0 Report post Posted April 30, 2007 8 minutes 34 seconds on hard tyres, full of fuel, jacked up high and geared to a maximum of 275kph. BMW has written another chapter in motor sport history on the legendary Nordschleife at the Nürburgring. Today, Saturday, a modern Formula 1 vehicle was driven round the 20.8 kilometre race track for the first time in 31 years in front of a crowd numbering 45,000 BMW Sauber F1 Team driver Nick Heidfeld was extremely enthusiastic after three laps in the F1.06: “This drive was simply incredible. I thought it would be great to drive on the Nordschleife before I started out. But it was even better than I had expected. This racing track is the best in the world. I’d really like to have emptied the tank. It was a very special moment when I left the grand prix circuit in the direction of the Nordschleife. I was really shaken up at the Bergwerk section and on the Döttinger Höhe. I’ll never forget today as long as I live. Another particularly special experience has now joined the many fantastic childhood memories and racing successes.†BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen said: “We wanted to give fans a special treat. And I believe we have done this with the entire BMW motor sport programme. The BMW M3 GTR that Olaf Manthey presented today was welcomed like an old friend. The car is actually much too athletic for the museum. Naturally, the high point was Nick’s drive with the F1.06. We had implored him to be careful. The day was a homage to the fans and to this unique circuit in the world of racing. For once, the lap times were a secondary consideration.†Despite unusually hard demonstration tyres and short transmission ratio, Heidfeld notched up a top speed of 275 km/h on the long straight called the “Döttinger Höheâ€. The second lap was his fastest lap and took 8:34 minutes. A camera car took shots of the 29-year-old on some sections of all three laps and Heidfeld slowed down for the photo calls. The F1.06 was adjusted for maximum ground clearance to drive on this uneven traditional circuit – four centimetres at the front axle, eight centimetres at the rear axle. No other modifications were carried out on the vehicle. One special measure was necessary for wireless communication. Team Manager Beat Zehnder travelled with the camera helicopter in order to secure the radio link over the entire distance instead of sitting on the pit wall as usual. As far as BMW is concerned, the Nürburgring is rather like a second home, not simply because of numerous past successes – including 18 overall victories at 24 hour races and a one-two Formula 1 win. BMW Motorsport is also the partner for the VLN endurance championship at the Nürburgring, with one of the races being held today (Saturday). BMW Driver Training, BMW Ring Taxis, the BMW Performance Centre and a permanent racing-car exhibition in the “Erlebniswelt†leisure park are fixed institutions at the Eifel circuit. In addition to the BMW Sauber F1 Team with Heidfeld and test driver Sebastian Vettel and the BMW M3 GTR, the BMW works drivers from the World Touring Car Championship (FIA WTCC) guaranteed lots of exciting action , as well as talking to fans and signing autograph books. Two-times world champion Andy Priaulx and Jörg Müller also played taxi driver on the Nordschleife, as did Augusto Farfus. The BMW motor-sport fleet was out in force on the legendary circuit. There was Formula 1 and the BMW M3 GTR, the BMW 320si WTCC to the BMW Z4 M Coupé. Even the smallest of all BMW racing cars put in an appearance: In the morning, Heidfeld took the inspection lap in the Formula BMW packing 140 hp. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Denny Crane Report post Posted April 30, 2007 BMW is the most successful marque at the green hell. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
my_e36 43 Report post Posted May 2, 2007 8 min 34 is not *that* fast. I thought it would be faster than that seeing some Porsche/Ferarri do 8 minutes flat. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greenday-rulz21 4 Report post Posted May 2, 2007 8 min 34 is not *that* fast. I thought it would be faster than that seeing some Porsche/Ferrari do 8 minutes flat. A camera car took shots of the 29-year-old on some sections of all three laps and Heidfeld slowed down for the photo calls. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M3_Power 636 Report post Posted May 2, 2007 Pretty obvious he stayed off the racing line around some of the corners, I suspect for photos, videos and the extreme camber change which would have no doubt taken the front wing off or damaged the chassis ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
