Quote:
Originally Posted by armensti
m3 csl (e46) gets a better time then the m3(e90) and the e90 has more hp so im sure that hp doesnt matter as much as the handling of the car.
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M3 CSL also comes standard with race rubbers (Michelin Pilot Sport Cups).
Let's get a couple of things straight about the 'Ring. First, power trumps all. Nurburgring has several very long straights where top speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour can be reached in a car with enough HP. Those sections can be as long as several MILES. The difference between a car that can reach, say, sustain 180mph and a car that's limited to say, 130mph, can be up to a full minute. And vehicle top-speed is a function of it's available HP and aerodynamic drag. Therefore cars with a clear HP advantage will have an easier path to a faster lap time at the 'Ring.
Not saying that a car that handles well won't be faster than a car that doesn't handle well, but the very nature of the beast that is the "ring" rewards cars with HP more than it does reward cars with grip.
But let's get back to the tangent, for a moment, of the BMW E46 M3 CSL vs. E90 M3. On a typical 2 mile long road course, the difference between a car equipped with R-comps and car equipped with run of the mill street tires can be as much as 5 seconds. On a 14 mile long course? It's simple to see why the CSL should be faster despite having 60 less horses.