Top speed of Ford GT ?

[bsmooth]

I've been having some great runs at the old Lemans circuit, but I was wondering what the top speed of the 66 Ford GT should be, even the later 69 models should have around 475HP, but it still looks like its using the lesser powered 425HP instead.
On the Mulsanne I can only get it up to about 195mph, where I heard it should be over 200mph. My best time is still about ten seconds short of the qualifying speed of around 3:30. Best I've done so far is a 3:41.

 

[Gevatter]

If you go by laptime, you need to take into account that the track mod may be inaccurate.

 

[David Wright]

205 mph is quoted by most sources. The 69 car probably didn't produce the 475 bhp Gurney claimed. Methods of testing bhp were different in the US compared to the UK. When they tested the winning engine in the UK after the race it produced 435 bhp. 440-445 bhp "new" is probably more accurate.

 

[bsmooth]

So its short by about 10mph, that might be a reason for the longer laptimes, or the inaccuracy of the track.
I have managed to get it down to 3:37, with a bit more practice maybe 3:35. I do find the Ferrari P330 is a much easier car to drive, although not quite as fast as the Ford, although it does seem to have much better brakes.
Great racing the Fords against the Ferrari's, although I was surprised how fast the Porsche 908's were as well. That and the 67 Corvette was quite quick as well.

 

[Andy-R]

The GT40 is good for atleast 3:26.4 on Le Grand Circuit. I just checked the replay to see what the top speed was and it was 199mph with no slipstream (hotlap) and I'm guessing 26c but not certain on the temp as I dont think realtime app is accurate in replays.

With temp dropped to much lower it will surely top 200mph and with a slip stream I think I saw around 210mph on our server IIRC.

 

[bsmooth]

With a lot of practice I finally managed a 3:35, I'm not sure about a 3:26 though.

 

[Andy-R]

Looks like I still have the replay. Maybe it will help you shave some more time off.

 

[bsmooth]

Looks like your using slightly different gearing, I think I'm using the one that tops out at 211, and it never even gets close to that. looks like I need to carry more speed through the esses just before the front straight too, that is without piling into the barrier. Really clean lap, and at night, although with the amount of laps I have now, at least I know whats coming up. Thanks for the help.

 

[Andy-R]

and at night

Full disclosure that video is darker than when I raced I'm fairly sure. It was evening but still light IIRC. For some reason the replay shows as complete night (probably due to CSP update or SOL) so I made it a bit lighter but not as much as it was at the time of racing.

 

[bsmooth]

Even with different gearing I'm having no luck cutting back on the time. Every single time I try and apply throttle to carry speed out of the corners it just spins, even If just a little bit. those esses before the front staright I just can't seem to carry any more than about 130-140mph. I must have driven 20 laps last night trying to better my time, but even a 1:35 is hard to come by.
Makes me really appreciate that lap Andy, really good.

 

[Andy-R]

If you mean the esses that lead onto the S/F straight, if you are spinning there it's probably down to steering input / or steering input + lack of throttle (coasting and turning aggressively) is my guess. Unless you have really low track grip you wont be getting power oversteer there. If you mean onto the main/long straight then be patient while the car is still turning, gradually increase the throttle input until the wheels are straight then you can boot it

Being mid engine, when trying to carry more speed you might be getting something more like lift off oversteer, if you are not really accelerating hard when it spins on you, you probably need to keep a little bit of throttle on to balance the car and stop it spinning from coasting or lifting off while turning.