wakeech

...anyways, yes, the drivers do make a difference.

the best drivers in Japan still aren't that good 'cause all the real talent is in bikes anyway (and that's why their best of the best driver in F1 is very mediocre there). i dont' believe there's ever been a Japanese world champion driver.

aside from that, you never know if Mazda is intentionally positioning the cars in the race with a little green invested in the mag (as you could definitely view this specifically as advertising). it's entertaining, it's good to hear what the drivers' impressions are of the cars (if you speak japanese), but this is definitely not a scientific nor an even handed comparison.

the Mazdaspeed, given those differences (a stiffer suspension supposedly optimized for higher speed cornering, softer tyres, and a lighter flywheel, which isn't as big a difference as you all seem to want to think) it won't be significantly faster.

takahashi

You are understimating the tyre factor wakeech...

It would be a second difference if you have a soft tyre like the Yoko Advan Neova they used -- it is a very good tyre.

Even the diff b/n Michellin Pilot Sport and Pilot Sport Cup.. (semi slick)

I reckon the diff in time at Tsukuba b/n a 250bp and 280bp is not as much as a diff b/n 250bp and 255bp with bars, sus & tyres.

winstonc

I'm an avid fan of Best Motoring but I agree with Prober, It's just for entertainment.

Since I'm a businessman, I look at the business aspect of these vids. The main objective for them is to sell the vid and make some money and maybe to get some sponsorships from car, and tuning parts manufacturers.

They must come up with exciting stories like "revenge of RX-8" or whatever to keep the interest going. It's just like WWF, they come up with stories to make you want to watch the next round.

I haven't seen both the RX-8 vids but the above is just my general opinion.

zoom44

the MS car doesn't "have an intake" in the normal use of that term. they didn't just slap a K&N short arm in there. it has the same sort of S-DAIS that the stock * has but it has been tuned differently. this was reported in one of the articles talking about the "for sale only in Japan" MS8. the line read something like "the car had just come out of the garage with new intake tweaks which they won't discuss". while the 0-60 might not be much different these intake tweaks combined with a lighter flywheel could make all the difference for getting the jump out of the corner. add the tires and suspension which allow you to carry more speed thru the corners. this all combines to signifcantly decrease your lap times without significant increases in HP.

IZoomZoomI

as far as performance mods the ms8 has a high flow cat installed with vfad correct? and with all the other suspension modifications it should make a good amount of difference.

GTF-RX-8

Why would suspension tweaking not make a difference?

obdr

hate to break it to you all, but I own every Best Motoring DVD you can buy (hehe) and I have downloaded almost every other race available through various P2P networks........After watching tons of them certain patterns start to emerge.....For example, there are definately stronger drivers (such as Tsuchiya) and you start to realize that they put certain drivers in certain cars they wish to focus on........(and win the race)

One thing that definately goes on in Best Motoring is politics....It is after all a Japanese show promoting Japanese cars..........One thing I noticed from watching 10 million of them is that they are VERY inconsistent.......For example, if one race is focused on a certain car, it RARELY loses.......But then, in another race with some of the same cars but the focus on a different car, the previously highlighted cars will not perform as they did before.......in fact, more often then not, they perform far worse when the focus of the show is not one them!!!!

For example, a 350z will beat an e46 M3 on Tsukuba (which is just stupid), then in another video the 350z will lose horribly to an M3 and barely be able to touch an Accord Euro R.......There are countless examples of extreme inconsistancy that has led me to believe there is rigging of the races, or at the very least drivers are told to try to let certain cars win........especially JDM cars....

I too have seen the BM video of a Vette losing.....This is just rediculous....Every parameter of performance suggest that a Corvette should beat an Evo on a high speed track such as the track they raced on........The Evo may be a great car and on lower speed curvy tracks the Evo's high corner speed can let it run with the bug boys it really should not be able to keep up with a Porsche 911 Turbo or a Z06 Corvette...........let alone beat the Vette!!!!!