Well i've been off work today and have spent most of it seeing how fast I can lap the Ring in various exotica. Started with the current crop of "super hatches" results as follows.

Clio V6 255 - 8mins48
Focus RS - 8mins52
Golf R32 - 8min54
147 GTA - 9min00

The clio felt the best to drive seemed much more adjustable than the others. The Focus understerred a little too much. The golf felt very stable and i dont think that time does it justice. The Alfa was a bit lairly to say the least.

I then decided to switch to the latest Autobahn munchers with the Lotus Carlton chucked in for goo measure.

BMW M5 - 8min02
Merc E55AMG - 8min12
Audi RS6 - 8min16
Lotus Carlton - 8min36

The new M5 was immense and a sub 8 min lap should be easily achievable. Was surprised by the Merc, was very stable and had an imprssive turn of speed. Lotus Carlton definatly showed its age, brakes were bad and it understerred loads.

Other cars I tried include -

Aston Martin Vanquish - 7min58
TVR Speed 6 - 7min56
M3 CSL - 8min00
Corvette Z06 - 8min05
Ruf RGT - 8min04
Ruf CTR - 8min00
Dodge Viper SRT10 7min50
Pagani Zonda - 7min35
Saleen S7 7min3

All of these lap times can be improved but I think they show some intersting results. Wonder how they would compare to real life laps of the ring?? Can you tell i've been extremly bored today