Original first track test of CGT by BMI (Gan San)

[tforth]

I've never heard anyone say that the CGT had 'soft dampers' :

Carrera GT driven on Suzuka Circuit - Best Motoring International - YouTube

Carrera GT driven on Suzuka Circuit - Best Motoring International - YouTube

You would think that since Gan San loved the NSX-R so much, that he would like the CGT that much more. I guess his expectations were too high.

Regarding the tires on the CGT; I'v never understood why it didn't come with Sport Cups instead of lowly PS2s .

[nthfinity]

Originally Posted by tforth I've never heard anyone say that the CGT had 'soft dampers' : You would think that since Gan San loved the NSX-R so much, that he would like the CGT that much more. I guess his expectations were too high. Regarding the tires on the CGT; I'v never understood why it didn't come with Sport Cups instead of lowly PS2s .

I remember this test. As I remember; yes... the dampers feel soft for a F1 smooth race track. That said, I believe the test car was already "well worn" by numerous tests both by PAG, and journalists.

Additionally, PAG under direction from WR suggested the car be less knife edge than originally planned. PAG also didn't want the car fitted with TC... which it was (or may not have been after all).

Several tire compounds were tested, as well as several different suspension configurations. Apparently, PAG knew that many customers would drive their CGT's a lot... not unlike the top level 911's out there. The PS2 is more suitable for driving in weather.

The results, and "why" can be argued until the cows come home; but I've yet to meet anybody who is disappointed with the way the CGT delivers

[RC45]

The PS2's on the CGT are CGT-specific softer-almost-SportCup-compound-PS2's.

[J-San]

Actually, those critics Gan-San addressed to the Carrera GT were confirmed 2 years later by Mark Basseng (sp?), a german pro driver, when took the CGT, Zonda F, Koenigsegg CCX, Ferrari Enzo and Maserati MC12 for a power lap in Nurburgring:

YouTube

YouTube

I was also very surprised by seeing the Gan-San comments in that video 2 years ago, I thought he must have had unrealistic expectations about the car (afterall, Gan-San BOUGHT a CGT before driving it), but now it seems he was right. This same driver (and he is german, and beated the lap time posted by the aging Porsche test driver Walter Rohrl by quite a significant margin) complained about the overall softness of the car's suspension.

I guess it is one of those cases that, when the car comes out, all press praises it, but pro racing drivers find faults on the car... and only some years later, the press criticizes those same faults. But it's understandable, after all, they are used to drive racing cars all their lives, they must be a little more nit-picking than us, average, non-professional drivers.

[nthfinity]

Originally Posted by J-San Actually, those critics Gan-San addressed to the Carrera GT were confirmed 2 years later by Mark Basseng (sp?), a german pro driver, when took the CGT, Zonda F, Koenigsegg CCX, Ferrari Enzo and Maserati MC12 for a power lap in Nurburgring: I was also very surprised by seeing the Gan-San comments in that video 2 years ago, I thought he must have had unrealistic expectations about the car (afterall, Gan-San BOUGHT a CGT before driving it), but now it seems he was right. This same driver (and he is german, and beated the lap time posted by the aging Porsche test driver Walter Rohrl by quite a significant margin) complained about the overall softness of the car's suspension. I guess it is one of those cases that, when the car comes out, all press praises it, but pro racing drivers find faults on the car... and only some years later, the press criticizes those same faults. But it's understandable, after all, they are used to drive racing cars all their lives, they must be a little more nit-picking than us, average, non-professional drivers.

The Nurburgring was recently repaved in many sections shorty before that; and WR's "published" time was on a far bumpier track.