I hadnt really raced my GTS until last night. Ive never taken her to the quarter or had any real "encounters" other than a nutter in an M5 last week but the highway was busy so we didnt get a good run.
However, last night my friend Vinni called to tell me his new GTR had finally arrived and was ready to hit the streets. He had traded in his BPU Supra making around 480hp for a 96' R33 GTR which was supposed to be running 700 crank hp. He asked if i wanted to come hit the highway for a couple of runs to test the GTR. He said that a couple of other cars might be coming too.
I turned up and there was already a very clean 28,000 mile stage one RX7 making around 320hp, a couple of DC2 integra type R's and a new Lotus Exige Supercharged.
Quite a good line up...
Im running a basic bolt on Viper so i was curious to see how i would fare against a 700hp GTR! I owned a stage 2 Le Mans GTR previously so i know these things can fly.
My old GTR
Just before we hit the highway we pulled into get gas and the GTR was already having electric probnlems ( all this big horsepower 2.7 Jun block single turbo yadda yadda but then a cigarette lighter blows your fuses and cuts your lights
). We get these sorted after 30 minutes and continue on our way.
Run 1 : Viper GTS vs Supercharged Exige
I didnt know what to expect here as i had a series one exige a couple years back and knew that they were quick off the mark but lacked mid range grunt. With a supercharger strapped on i was very curious.
We lined up rolling at 60mph on the straight. Three honks on the horn and i heard his blower rip up and then fade away as i left him 3, 4, 5 ,6 etc cars back. WOW i didnt think it was going to be that easy a win!! I ran Jagy three more times as a warm up and the same result each time. Win to the GTS.
Run 2 : Viper GTS vs RX7 type R Stage one tune
A very similar result to the Exige race. Though the Rx7 had more torque, it didnt help it. It too was quickly lost in the rear view.
The road started to get a bit damp so we pulled in for a bit of a chat again and get a drink at the gas station.
After 15 mins or so it was dry again and time to run the GTR.
Run 3 : Viper GTS vs R33 GTR 2.7 Jun Single Turbo
The first run Vinni wanted to try on low boost. He said he was running it at 1.2 bar boost and that was making 500 odd hp at the crank.
Again we line up on the highway but this time we went from 80mph to let his turbo be semi spooled up. I had preferred to take it from a 60mph roll on because 2nd gear really gets a lead in the GTS but from 80mph i kept it in 3rd gear. After 3 honks we hit the throttles and straight away i crap my pants from the noise of this turbo, however i also get a boner because ive just pulled at least a car and a half on the GTR and the gap is getting bigger! We run to 140mph with the GTR not gaining any so we hang off and get ready for round two.
Run 4: Viper GTS vs R33 GTR Jun 2.7 (1.5bar boost)
This time Vinni turned the boost up to his max 1.5 which should have been good for 700hp. I didnt think i was going to outrun him but hell i wanted to try
This time we ran from a 60 roll on. Ill be damned if i was going to let him get an early spool! Three honks and i grab second and plant it. Straight away ive gained at least 3 cars on the GTR! Im in 3rd and hes not even close, 4th gear and you should see the smile on my face as i ease down the highway! All of a sudden i hear that loud ass turbo in my left ear! His boost had finally come on and was hauling me in fast! At 145mph i let off as he prettty much had a car on me!
I have to admit though i have a newfound respect for the GTS now knowing how quick it is from a roll. When you drive it around town a lot you forget that although it is quick, on the highway it really shines! You see all these cars zipping around city centres and hanging off your bumper pretending to be fast...get them out on the highway for a properly set up run and the Viper puts them in their place.
The Viper making im assuming 440rwhp was hanging with a 700 crank GTR and handing it its ass on low boost. For a stage one-ish GTS that certainly made my night
Videos next time lol
Davy checking the GTS before i head out
Vinni's Jun 2.7 GTR, Jagy's blown Exige and my view from the GTS
Fuses have blown!!!
Theres a lot of power in that engine bay
This is when you can really irritate folk talking about big displacement low stress engines and lack of things going wrong blah blah
