Quote:
Originally Posted by BMR Sales
if they didn't go there to set Lap times, then they would never be published. There are a lot better Test Tracks that are closer & would cost American Manufacturers a lot less money
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Define 'better'. The big reason for going to the 'Ring is because of its enormous number (and therefore combination) of loading conditions. You cannot get that data set anywhere else, not at a single location anyway. You'd have to do multiple tracks to achieve something similar. But that takes more time (and therefore is more expensive) than just going to Germany and getting it over with in one shot.
And if publishing Nurburgring times is the only reason to go there, why hasn't Ford done so? They've been going there for years, and never published a time. Has every single run they've ever made been a disappointment? Including when there was no competitor to have been bested by (like the old 550 hp GT500 from about a decade ago).
That would be an incredibly stupid way to spend money. You'd think the bean counters in Dearborn would have stepped in after maybe the 2nd (or at least 3rd) time and said 'Nope, this has been a total waste of money from the start. You're not going again'.