Another Mazda3 at Nurburg

[Lenny]

This one is pretty awesome..

[Harpoon]

Freakin A.. that is awesome..I wish I could go there one day.. always been a dream of mine.

[HotCarl]

He's haulin! wonder what the fastest time there is for the MS3?

[Phil]

That was a great vid!

[BlastMS3]

Awesome vid! he is flying.

Here's a list of the fastest times on the Ring

* 6:49 - BMW M3-GTR (race version), 480 PS/1100kg, Hans-Joachim Stuck
* 6:55 - Radical SR8, 360 PS/650 kg, Michael Vergers (28 Sep 2005)
* 7:12 - Radical SR3 Turbo, 320 PS/500 kg (test drive 07/03)
* 7:14 - Donkervoort D8 RS, 398 PS/760 kg, Michael Duchting (sport auto 11/05)
* 7:15 - Edo Porsche 996 GT2 RS, 542 PS/1284 kg, de:Patrick Simon (sport auto 09/05)
* 7:18 - Donkervoort D8 RS, 370 PS/670 kg, Michael Duchting (sport auto 12/04)
* 7:28 - Porsche Carrera GT, 612 PS/1475 kg, Walter Rohrl, (Autobild 07/04)
* 7.32 - Porsche Carrera GT (Sport Auto Trophy, driven by Horst von Saurma)
* 7.32 - Porsche 997 GT2 2008 (Motor Authority)
* 7.32 - Gemballa Porsche GTR 600 PS/1432 kg (Gemballa)
* 7:33 - Pagani Zonda F, 602 PS/1230 kg (sport auto 05/06)
* 7:34 - Koenigsegg CCR, 806 PS/1418 kg, Horst von Saurma (sport auto), Oct 17-18 2005
* 7:40 - Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, Klaus Ludwig (AutoBild 07/04)
* 7:40 - Porsche 997 Turbo 480PS/1565 kg Walter Rohrl
* 7:41 - Manthey Porsche GT3 M410, 413 PS/1320 kg (160.868 km/h), Lucas Luhr (Autobild 07/04)
* 7:42 - Porsche 997 GT3, 415 PS/1440 kg, Walter Rohrl (Automobil 05/06)
* 7:42 - Ford GT, 550 PS/1521 kg (as indicated by Octane magazine, 11/05) (news release, pictures)
* 7.429 - Corvette Z06 (Jan Magnussen)
* 7:43 - Lamborghini Murcielago (Autocar magazine 02)
* 7:44 - Pagani Zonda S 550 PS/1280 kg (sport auto 02/05)
* 7:46 - Porsche 996 GT2, 462 PS/1450 kg (sport auto 06/01)
* 7:47 - Porsche 996 GT3 RS (sport tyres) [citation needed]
* 7:47 - Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 E-gear (sport tyres) (sport auto 01/07)
* 7:48 - Porsche 997 GT3, 415 PS/1440 kg (sport auto 07/06)
* 7:49 - Helmut Dahne, Honda VFR750R
* 7:50 - Fausto "Faustone" Severi Rsv1000R-Gsxr1000 vs Dahne (SuperWheels's Pattuglia Acrobatica 2002)
* 7:50 - Westfield Megabusa, 180 PS/440 kg [citation needed]
* 7:50 - Lamborghini Murcielago, (sport auto 06/02)
* 7:50 - BMW X5 E53 LM, BMW Lemans V-12 engine 750 bhp, Hans-Joachim Stuck (EVO magazine 08/2005)
* 7:50 - BMW M3 E46 CSL, 360 PS/1421 kg (sport auto 08/03)
* 7:52 - Porsche 996 GT3 (381 hp) [citation needed]
* 7:52 - Lamborghini Gallardo [citation needed]
* 7:55 - Caterham R500 Superlight, 233 PS/460 kg, Robert Nearn (EVO magazine 07/2000)
* 7:55 - Ferrari F430 F1, 490 PS/1493 kg (sport auto 01/06)
* 7:56 - Honda NSX-R (NA2), 280 PS/31kgm/1270 kg, Incomplete lap by 30 metres, Motoharu Kurosawa (Best MOTORing 08/02)
* 7:56 - Porsche 996 Turbo (sport auto 06/00)
* 7:56 - Ferrari 360 stradale (sport tyres) (sport auto 02/04)
* 7:57 - Lotec Porsche 993 Turbo (600 hp, racing suspension) [citation needed]
* 7:59 - Porsche 997 Carrera S, PASM setting “Performance”, Walter Rohrl, (WHEELS 06/04)
* 7:59 - Nissan Skyline GT-R R33, Dirk Schoymans, unknown modifications (Autocar magazine 1997)
* 7:59 - Dodge Viper SRT-10 (11/05) Motor Trend
* 7:59 - Chevrolet Corvette C6 Z51,405 PS/1481 kg, driver Dave Hill (manufacturer claim)
* 7:59 - Subaru Impreza Sti Spec-C (Prototype), 280 PS/1370 kg (Subaru News 2004 [1])
* 8:01 - Bugatti EB 110 Supersport, 610 PS/1410 kg [citation needed]
* 8:01 - Nissan Skyline GT-R R33, 280 PS/37.5 kgf·m/1540 kg, Motoharu Kurosawa (Best Motoring - Video Special DVD Series [The R33 GT-R])
* 8:02 - Mercedes CLK 63 AMG - Black Series, 507 PS/ 1790 kg (autobild 07/07)
* 8:03 - Aston Martin V8 Vantage (2005), 380 bhp/1570 kg (sport auto 10/05)
* 8:03 - Porsche 911 GT3, 360 PS/1391 kg (sport auto 08/99)
* 8:03 - Honda NSX-R (NA1), 280 PS/30 kgf·m/1230 kg, Motoharu Kurosawa (Best MOTORing 02/06)
* 8:06 - Subaru WRX STi Spec-C prototype, 280 PS/42 kgf·m/1370 kg, Motoharu Kurosawa (Best Motoring International video "NISMO Beast Unleashed")
* 8:07 - Ferrari 550 [citation needed]
* 8:07 - BMW Z8 E52, 400 PS/1615 kg (autobild.de 06/01)
* 8:09 - Lamborghini Diablo SV [citation needed]
* 8:09 - Ferrari 360 Modena [citation needed]
* 8:09 - BMW M6 E63 (sport tyres) [limited to 259 km/h] (sport auto 12/05)
* 8:09 - Honda NSX-R, 320 PS/1467 kg, sport tires, suspension modification (sport auto 08/02)
* 8:10 - Chrysler Viper GTS (Sport Auto 10/97)
* 8:11 - Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX GSR prototype, 280 PS/40.8 kgf·m/1420 kg, Takayuki Kinoshita (Best Motoring International video "Carrera Invasion")
* 8:12 - Porsche 993 Turbo (430 hp version) [citation needed]
* 8:13 - BMW M5 E60, 507 PS (sport auto 12/04)
* 8:13 - Ferrari 355 GTB (Sport Auto 10/1994)
* 8:17 - Porsche 996 C2 [citation needed]
* 8:22 - Nissan Skyline GT-R R32, 280 PS/36 kgf·m/1430 kg, Motoharu Kurosawa (Best Motoring - Video Special DVD Series [The R32 GT-R])
* 8:22 - BMW M3 E46, 343 PS/1584 kg (sport auto 12/00)
* 8:22 - BMW M Coupe E36/7, 321 PS/1445 kg (sport auto 10/98)
* 8:22 - Mercedes CLK 63 AMG (fastest AMG test engineer)
* 8:24 - Subaru Impreza WRX STI, sport tires (Sport Auto 05/04)
* 8:25 - Jaguar XKR (Sport Auto)
* 8:25 - Porsche Cayman S (Sport Auto)
* 8:25 - Audi RS4 375 hp [citation needed]
* 8:24 - Mitsubishi Charisma GT Evo VI, sport tires (Sport Auto 11/99)
* 8:25 - Mitsubishi Charisma GT Evo VII, sport tires (Sport Auto 11/02)
* 8:26 - BMW 335i E92 Coupe, 306 hp (Sport Auto)
* 8:26 - Nissan 350Z (Sport Auto 10/03)
* 8:28 - Porsche 911 Carrera (993) (Sport Auto 07/97)
* 8:28 - BMW M5 E39 (previous model), 400 hp [citation needed]
* 8:32 - Porsche Boxster S (Sport Auto 12/99)
* 8.34 - BMW Sauber F1.06 Formula One car, Nick Heidfeld, April 28 2007[1]
* 8:35 - BMW M3 E36 Coupe, 321 hp [citation needed]
* 8:36 - Opel Astra OPC, 240 PS/1355 kg, Manuel Reuter (mfr., Oct 2005), sport compact record holder
* 8:37 - Mercedes C32 AMG [citation needed]
* 8:38 - Honda NSX (sport auto, 08/97)
* 8:39 - Honda S2000 (sport auto 01/00)
* 8:39 - MADZDASPEED3
* 8:40 - Chevrolet Corvette C5 automatic, 344 PS/1505 kg (sport auto 07/97) (Crash involving civilian later in the lap)
* 8:42 - Audi S4 265 hp [citation needed]
* 8:42 - Lotus Exige, sport tires (Sport Auto 11/00)
* 8:47 - Honda Civic Type-R (Sport Auto 11/01)
* 8:48 - Opel Corsa OPC, Manuel Reuter, supermini record
* 8:49 - Jaguar XKR Coupe [citation needed]
* 8:52 - Mercedes CLK 430 [citation needed]
* 9:12 - Jaguar S-Type Diesel driven by Sabine Schmitz for an episode of Top Gear (Series 5, Episode 5 Bridged to Gantry)
* 9:59 - Jaguar S-Type Diesel driven by Jeremy Clarkson for an episode of Top Gear (Series 5, Episode 5 Bridge to Gantry)
* 10:08 - Ford Transit driven by Sabine Schmitz for an episode of Top Gear (Series 6, episode 7; Bridge to Gantry within tourist traffic)

[BlastMS3]

And some info about the test...

MAZDA3 MPS: RING MASTER

Mazda3 MPS takes on Nurburgring and comes up less than 5 seconds off lap record

The Mazda flies down The Foxhole. Bang up against the rev limiter in fifth, then flat‑change into sixth and up to 150mph. Turbo blowing hard, the Mazda3 MPS hotshoe voraciously sucks up the track ahead, rusty Armco, candy-stick rumble strips and towering oak trees filling the windscreen.

Drawing a dead straight line through the left-right-left-right of one of the Nürburgring's most infamous corners, Mark Ticehurst throws the Mazda down to the bottom of the hill, the car's suspension compressing hard before he hurtles up the other side and peels hard left and up into Adenaur Forest. He's gone as quickly as he arrives, the wailing engine note briefly ricocheting off the hillside before leaving a loud silence in its wake.

The Mazda3 MPS is on a hot one. Nine miles away nervous eyes are glancing at stopwatches and ears are straining to catch the sound of the 3MPS's wailing exhaust note.

The idea behind this trip is simple. Get a box-fresh Mazda3 MPS, take it to the Nürburgring and see how it shapes up against what is arguably the most demanding, exhilarating and treacherous track in the world. Put its hot hatch credentials to the test, in other words. On paper it is the UK's most powerful front-wheel drive hot hatch on the market. But just how well will it fare on the track, on its standard road tyres, suspension and brakes?

There's also talk of trying to better the lap record – a time of 8 minutes and 35.02 seconds – but rather than taking aim at some nebulous goalposts, Ticehurst decides to just push the 3MPS as hard as he can and see how it behaves. Around the 13-mile long Nürburgring it should get plenty of room to stretch its legs.



The Mazda certainly has legs to stretch. Under its humped bonnet sits the same 2.3-litre turbo-charged engine that also sees service in the Mazda6 MPS. The all‑alloy inline four features high-pressure Direct Injection Spark Ignition technology to deliver a blood-spitting 260ps at 5,500rpm and 380Nm of torque at 3,000rpm. Enough bicep to launch the Mazda to 62mph in 6.1seconds and onto an electronically limited 155mph top speed.

Ticehurst's car is fitted with the newly introduced Sports Aero Kit, with a larger tail‑mounted spoiler and spoked wing mirrors; the kit gives the MPS a much‑needed dose of visual aggression.

More importantly though, it also adds a tweaked suspension set-up – the strut front and multi-link rear suspension is fitted with uprated Eibach springs and dampers that lower the car by 25mm at the front and 10mm at the rear. As well as further tying down unwanted body movement, the lowered ride height also promises sharper turn in - which ought to be useful on a circuit with 73 corners. Factor in the huge brakes – 320mm ventilated front disc brakes and 280mm rear discs – and recalibrated TCS (Traction Control System), and the Mazda3 MPS is even better equipped to deal with the torturous 13-mile long circuit.

Getting Mark Ticehurst behind the wheel for the challenge was a simple decision. He's a regular within Mazda's motorsport line-up and was a key member of the company's successful Britcar campaign. Which sounds like a bit of an unfair advantage when it comes to pushing the Mazda3 MPS to the limit.

But then Ticehurst is a Ring virgin. He's lapped the circuit a few dozen times on his Playstation, but until today, he's never set foot on the world's most infamous track. He says he's not nervous but he gets hopelessly lost in Calais on the five-hour drive from Dover to Nürburgring. Let's hope he can make his away around the circuit without stopping for directions...

He comes back after a few exploratory laps and just cannot believe what he has seen. "Madness! It's just sheer madness out there!" I was jousting with everything from Le Mans-spec Porsches to Fiat Multiplas stuffed to the gills with screaming kids. And the bikers! It's

like driving in a swarm of hornets – they are everywhere!" It's a real baptism of fire, but Ticehurst keeps heading out to familiarise himself with the track at every opportunity. Knowledge around the Ring is everything.

He's impressed with the car too. "It's all that torque that makes a huge difference. Because it's such a hilly track, you really need plenty of torque to haul you out of the slower corners and up the steep hills like Bergwerk.

It's a confidence-inspiring car to drive hard too – it feels tight and compliant requiring only small driving inputs to adjust its direction and attitude. Even after each 12.7mile lap of arduous torture the car was still fresh and ready for more." Quite a feat, given his Mazda3 MPS is running standard road tyres, brake discs and pads.

Ticehurst and his team wait until the end of the day, after the track has closed, to get the circuit to themselves for a couple of full flying laps. He heads out on a warm‑up lap, getting his mind together and building up a head of speed. Bulleting along the long straight between Galgenkopf and Antoniusbuche the Mazda3 MPS head butts its 155mph speed limiter. He passes the timing point at full chat in sixth, rev counter deep into the red.

With a clear track ahead of him, it's an ideal opportunity to push the Mazda as hard as he can. And he pushes hard. With its constantly changing surface, off camber corners and momentous pace, this is a terrifyingly complex track. You have to get every single one of the circuit's curves, bends and corners one hundred per cent correct, every single time. Why? Because the exit point of one corner is the entry point for the next.

A small error on corner one will magnify itself into a massive Armco-enhanced mistake come corner five. And if you get it wrong you have a pretty good chance of what's left of you being scraped up with a spatula before being dispatched home in a jam jar.

Ticehurst drives like a man possessed, hurtling the Mazda around the track. His concentration is complete. And it pays off – he puts in a blindingly fast lap. He comes rocketing past the timing point and stops the clocks with a lap time of 8 minutes and 39.66 seconds. That's just 4.64 seconds off the lap record.

Ticehurst is absolutely elated with his time. "That was just off the scale. I drove it as hard as I could – I wasn't thinking about the lap time! I think it says a great deal about the Mazda, that I could just get in it and drive it around a circuit that I hardly know and get within striking distance of the lap record. It's one of the best things I have ever done in a car. Ever."

The best thing, that is, until the summer when he heads back to the Ring to have a real crack at the lap record.

Not bad for his first day at the 'ring.

[Nigel]

Amazing vid it's incredible what the car is capable of!

[Harpoon]

Great read! thanks..

Is it just me, or is that list everybody's dream garage