I need bench racing help
 

As a fun side project I'm going to make a video that will answer the question "Can someone with minimal racing experience drive faster than Jermey Clarkson?" It's not going to be totally accurate but my idea is so complex that some may believe me :lol:

The idea came from the Top Gear segment where Jeremy races a Honda NSX-R around Laguna Seca on GT4 then tries to match that same lap time in real life. His GT4 time was 1:41 and his on-course time was 1:57. I tried using the same car on the same track and on my first lap I managed a 1:39. I know this only proves that I'm better at GT4 than Jeremy is but it got me thinking, "Can I drive faster than him too?"

The first problem is quite apparent: I don't own a NSX-R nor do I have access to Laguna Seca.

My answer to that problem comes from a former Top Gear segment where the infamous Sabina (Nurburgring M5 Taxi driver) tasks Jeremy to lap the ring in under 10 minutes in a diesel Jaguar S-Type. He does it, but only by one second. By generalizing Jeremy's driving abilities I now have common ground for this challenge since I can go to the Nurburgring on the weekends.

The next problem is the car: I don't have a Jag S-type either...

This is where I need help with bench racing. I want to find a way to come up with a semi-accurate handicap so my little non-turbo Impreza can compete. After this is completed then comes the fun part, testing that handicap :D Tomorrow morning I'm going to The Ring again with a few Subaru guys so I can get a better idea as to where I stand. My first lap on The Ring was about 11 minutes, but it was a horrible lap.

I plan on further proving that I'm better at GT4 by racing a Jag Type-S around The Ring faster than Jeremy's split (which was 18 seconds on Laguna Seca) after I/we figure out an accurate way of setting it.

So, can anyone help me out? What ideas do you have about setting a proper handicap and time split?

you bastard.

Why dont you race a non-turbo subbie on GT4 around the ring, and then try to beat your own time? Maybe that will give you a better indicator of whether or not you're a better driver than Jeremy Clarkson.

Take your time with the NSX on GT4@seca and find the difference between yours and Jeremy's time. Then, do your time on the ring in your subaru (or something equivalent), multiply that difference into your time, run the real thing with your real subaru, and incorporate that into your answer. See if your difference on the ring is less than his difference at secca (in comparison). Then I think you've got a base for your argument.

Then i think you've got a base for being confused.

That won't work. . . the only NA Subarus in GT4 are the 3.0 Legacies that make ~250hp anyway. All the Imprezas are turbocharged.

The only answer is rent a car. Or be able to rent a car that would be able to drive in GT4. Then you have both the base from Laguna Seca and Jeremy's time to compare with your times in GT4 at Seca and your real time in the rental car at the ring.

I'm thinking of asking one of the STi owners if I can use their car. I'm playing this off as a project for a Journalism class.

Sorry, I can't come up with any suggestions. . . jealousy has overpowered my thought process.

What kind of handicap would you guys think would be fair for a Jag S-Type Diesel and a 05 STi? I'm thinking of assigning points to different aspects like motor size, forced induction, drivetrain layout, whp, wtq, and weight in an attempt to make the cars "even."

Thoughts?

Unless a stock diesel S-Type and a stock '05 STi have recorded laps on the same track in similar conditions, that's a REALLY tough question to answer.

I wrote the Time Trials Production car rules here:

http://www.seccs.org/ttclass.php

Here are the results:
So the STI is a significantly faster car according to the weight of the factors I've included. Basically the Jag's motor is the equivalent of a 3.8L low tech N/A motor. The STI is the equivalent of a 5.6L low tech N/A motor.

By looking at the modifiers in the TT rules, you can kind of get a feeling for what we decided each piece of technology is worth. Unfortunately for your purpose, the rules assume the cars have all made significant braking and handling upgrades. If both cars are stock, the STI will have even a greater handling advantage not built into these numbers which are essentially all power to weight adjustments.

Sperry, that is awesome! Too bad that points system is aimed toward street prepared and up.

What about using my N/A Impreza? I know that thing is at quite a disadvantage.

Lets see some pictures you jerk! Don't make me go upside your head!

Pictures of what?

From the Nurburgring last weekend. Of your buddy's "450" whp STI

It got rained out. And he's not my buddy, he just lives in the same area as I do. And here is a link to his car- http://www.iwsti.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65303

I'll take pictures of it whenever the next meet is. I've yet to meet all the Subaru guys in the area.