M4 Sebring / Daytona / Homestead Lap times

[JMon]

So I was at Sebring last weekend running my gt3 cup car and was curious to find out the lap time of an M4 on slicks. Unfortunately when I timed it the guy seemed to only be making around 2:36 at best.... (No Traffic) I timed about 12 laps across 2 sessions. Most laps were above 2:40s.
Even if it had been a 2:30 I would have been disappointed mainly because of those slicks.. (Slicks should decrease about 5-7 seconds at Sebring)

I'm wanting to buy a M4 as my daily driver (occasional track use) but have been waiting on lap times from tracks I'm familiar with... I want a 2:30 Sebring car on street tires and fully under warranty... I had high hopes for the m4..

Anyone have Sebring/Daytona/Homestead lap times? Any video?

[nickdrivesm3]

Why are you trying to compare a car based on its lap times? Its no GT3 Cup Car and just because it has slicks, doesn't mean the driver knows how to use them.

[MasterC17]

Yea just because the guy was on slicks doesn't mean he was using them properly or even pushing the car. Most people just buy slicks because they can. Sebring is a fast, but technical track. With a competent driver and slicks, I think a 2:30 would be difficult but possible. Throw a set of KW Clubsports on with a JB4 and proper pads and a 2:30 becomes easy.

[M4LAKA]

i almost didnt buy my new pick up truck because it didnt go around MOSPORT as fast as my M4

[cctm4me]

I was there with a close friend that drives a Ferrari challenge cup car and we were parked next to the guy with the M4. I went and spoke to him for a bit and this was either his first or second time out in the car and normally drives a Cayman S. I am sure he was probably going a bit on the easy side feeling a good bit of difference in handling from the Cayman to M4

[FTS]

@JMon; I think the best way for you to compare the F8x to a P-car equivalent would be PCA H-stock cars. And those also run around 2:25-2:35 range in race trim. I don't know any laps anyone ran thus far at Sebring, but I would not expect the F8x to be able to run 2:30 in stock trim even with racing slicks. I actually would think it is commendable that M4 was able to run 2:36 range given that it is a new model and there hasn't been any development yet on it; not even alignment vs. tires, springs, shocks, etc. I don't think anyone yet knows what is the best setup to be able to pull 2:30s at Sebring.

[Jacky Treehorn]

Originally Posted by JMon

So I was at Sebring last weekend running my gt3 cup car and was curious to find out the lap time of an M4 on slicks. Unfortunately when I timed it the guy seemed to only be making around 2:36 at best.... (No Traffic) I timed about 12 laps across 2 sessions. Most laps were above 2:40s.
Even if it had been a 2:30 I would have been disappointed mainly because of those slicks.. (Slicks should decrease about 5-7 seconds at Sebring)

I'm wanting to buy a M4 as my daily driver (occasional track use) but have been waiting on lap times from tracks I'm familiar with... I want a 2:30 Sebring car on street tires and fully under warranty... I had high hopes for the m4..

Anyone have Sebring/Daytona/Homestead lap times? Any video?

I wish I had some lap times or video for you, but I don't really need it to answer your question....

An M3/M4 in stock trim with just slicks is not even close to being comparable to a GT3 Cup Car. For one, a GT3 Cup car weighs like 2500-2800 lbs vs 3500 lbs.

That's close to like 600-1000lbs difference. It has a fully adjustable suspension.....it's a turn key race car....plastic rear windows and carbon fiber decks/doors. It doesn't even have an interior.

Who knows what a properly driven M4 with slicks and good race prepping would run around Sebring with a GOOD driver? It's not going to be competitive with Cup cars though unless it has massive weight reduction/interior gutting, suspension modification, race alignment, corner balancing, ect.

[JMon]

I'm not trying to compare a M4 with my gT3 cup! A 996 cup car will turn 2:15s at Sebring. Not even the same ball park. Let's not compare...

Let me clarify.... I'm looking at getting an M4 for street and occasional track use. (Not expecting to run my cup times) My current street car is a 2005 Carrera S manual. Completely stock except tires and pads. On R888s with my driving, it can lap Sebring at best in 2:30.13
I was hoping to see a NEW M4 pull off a 2:30 on MPSS (real street tires)
I would have guessed an M4 with slicks would easily drop below 2:30


I'm hoping folks will post some actual laptimes for this car for more US South East tracks. All I have is VIR to go by.

[MasterC17]

Originally Posted by JMon

I'm not trying to compare a M4 with my gT3 cup! A 996 cup car will turn 2:15s at Sebring. Not even the same ball park. Let's not compare...

Let me clarify.... I'm looking at getting an M4 for street and occasional track use. (Not expecting to run my cup times) My current street car is a 2005 Carrera S manual. Completely stock except tires and pads. On R888s with my driving, it can lap Sebring at best in 2:30.13
I was hoping to see a NEW M4 pull off a 2:30 on MPSS (real street tires)
I would have guessed an M4 with slicks would easily drop below 2:30


I'm hoping folks will post some actual laptimes for this car for more US South East tracks. All I have is VIR to go by.

As I previously stated, the car means next to nothing, the guy driving the M4 could have never seen a track before, lap times are entirely subjective to the person driving it. Until you get yourself in an M4 you'll have no idea what you driving the car can do in terms of lap times.

[cctm4me]

Originally Posted by JMon

I'm not trying to compare a M4 with my gT3 cup! A 996 cup car will turn 2:15s at Sebring. Not even the same ball park. Let's not compare...

Let me clarify.... I'm looking at getting an M4 for street and occasional track use. (Not expecting to run my cup times) My current street car is a 2005 Carrera S manual. Completely stock except tires and pads. On R888s with my driving, it can lap Sebring at best in 2:30.13
I was hoping to see a NEW M4 pull off a 2:30 on MPSS (real street tires)
I would have guessed an M4 with slicks would easily drop below 2:30


I'm hoping folks will post some actual laptimes for this car for more US South East tracks. All I have is VIR to go by.

Ill strap up on the January "Chin" day and I will turn something under 2:30 in the blue group. Will that make you feel better pumpkin?

[MaynardZed]

Originally Posted by JMon

I'm not trying to compare a M4 with my gT3 cup! A 996 cup car will turn 2:15s at Sebring. Not even the same ball park. Let's not compare...

Let me clarify.... I'm looking at getting an M4 for street and occasional track use. (Not expecting to run my cup times) My current street car is a 2005 Carrera S manual. Completely stock except tires and pads. On R888s with my driving, it can lap Sebring at best in 2:30.13
I was hoping to see a NEW M4 pull off a 2:30 on MPSS (real street tires)
I would have guessed an M4 with slicks would easily drop below 2:30


I'm hoping folks will post some actual laptimes for this car for more US South East tracks. All I have is VIR to go by.

May not be doable on the MPSS because they suck. Put R888s on the M4 and you should be even or faster than your Carrera easy. I can real in 991 Carreras with my M4 and am only about 1-2sec slower than 997 GT3s on our short (1.2mi.) east track. You're right, Cup cars whole different story, they're 5-6sec faster and usually lapping me in time trials by lap 6-8. They are effing awesome, have their own built in air jacks by god.

FWIW I see no reason to be running slicks on the M4 unless you can add negative camber. At this point there are no camber plates for the stock suspension. You have to get coilovers. Was the guy on slicks on coilovers?

[MasterC17]

I'm almost positive F30 camber plates will work. And for the rear Megan Racing is supposed to be coming out with camber arms. I think I'm just going to buy a set of the GC F30 Camber Plates and keep my fingers crossed.

http://www.ground-control-store.com/...ion.php?II=965

[MaynardZed]

That would be great if they worked. Keep us posted.

[canuk8698]

Ground Control just came out with camber plates that are designed for the F8X 3 hole and 5 hole models

It works with factory ECD.
36mm of negative camber
Allows the F8X to be put back to stock camber
6mm of caster adjustment bi-directional from stock.

[notoriousjje]

Originally Posted by JMon

So I was at Sebring last weekend running my gt3 cup car and was curious to find out the lap time of an M4 on slicks. Unfortunately when I timed it the guy seemed to only be making around 2:36 at best.... (No Traffic) I timed about 12 laps across 2 sessions. Most laps were above 2:40s.
Even if it had been a 2:30 I would have been disappointed mainly because of those slicks.. (Slicks should decrease about 5-7 seconds at Sebring)

I'm wanting to buy a M4 as my daily driver (occasional track use) but have been waiting on lap times from tracks I'm familiar with... I want a 2:30 Sebring car on street tires and fully under warranty... I had high hopes for the m4..

Anyone have Sebring/Daytona/Homestead lap times? Any video?

Sorry, just saw this. I posted in the lap times thread.

Just ran a 2:31 in the M3 on the stock PSS with my student in the car. With hoosiers and a legit suspension, you are talking mid to low 2:20's easy. The car is severely under-tired from the factory and undersprung but has gobs of power lap after lap.

[JMon]

Any other mods on that car or 100% stock?

Was camber adjusted at all?

Curious about T7. Given running on mpss, Did you leave it in 3rd and let the torque pull you through or go down to 2nd?

Also what brakes were on the car? Sebring can be a real brake killer.

[notoriousjje]

Originally Posted by JMon

Any other mods on that car or 100% stock?

Was camber adjusted at all?

Curious about T7. Given running on mpss, Did you leave it in 3rd and let the torque pull you through or go down to 2nd?

Also what brakes were on the car? Sebring can be a real brake killer.

Nah man You need to go down to 2nd. I think I was only at 40mph through there. So it was 2nd and then quick shift to 3rd.

I put Pagid yellows in thinking it was going to be enough but it wasn't. Sever fade after 5 laps. The car needs front brake cooling ducts bad.

Car has camber plates and pads that's it.
First two things I would add are cooling ducts and 305's in the rear

[JMon]

wow, down to 40! You must basically turn and drag race out of that corner.
Any better on Tower?
I would have thought the car would take that much faster.... I'm generally cooking around 56/57 but I guess these are heavy cars, and it must be difficult to not drift the M3 there.

I'm going to order some spindle ducts. One thing I can't stand is dealing with questionable brakes. Takes all the fun out of the event. Always seems like the M cars have an issue at that track.

[notoriousjje]

Originally Posted by JMon

wow, down to 40! You must basically turn and drag race out of that corner.
Any better on Tower?
I would have thought the car would take that much faster.... I'm generally cooking around 56/57 but I guess these are heavy cars, and it must be difficult to not drift the M3 there.

I'm going to order some spindle ducts. One thing I can't stand is dealing with questionable brakes. Takes all the fun out of the event. Always seems like the M cars have an issue at that track.

Yep. I'll hook up the DL and look at the data, but I'm pretty sure I was low 40's through there. THe exit of that corner is so important for a lap that I make sure I am turned and ready to put power down there before the apex. Car needs a lot more tire in the rear.

The cup car gets around there at 50+? That's impressive man. My little honda race car can't make it to 50mph around here and that's with sticker r6's.

[RussianPete]

How much do the average gt3 cup car cost?

[JMon]

Around 60~70 for a good used 996
90 for a good 997
200 for a 991

I have a 996 with a 3.8l so it is a bit faster than a 997 3.6

It is what happens when you realize you're spending way too much on modifying a street car and decide to just get a dedicated track car. (Operationally it could be cheaper).

[dawgdog]

Originally Posted by notoriousjje

Sorry, just saw this. I posted in the lap times thread.

Just ran a 2:31 in the M3 on the stock PSS with my student in the car. With hoosiers and a legit suspension, you are talking mid to low 2:20's easy. The car is severely under-tired from the factory and undersprung but has gobs of power lap after lap.

What are your times in the RS? I am impressed at how fast the M3 is in a straight line. Even the 991 GT3s do not pull on me.