Motorsports Trivia Thread!

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@hsv
Nurburgring Eiffel and Estoril. Nannini set pole, fastest lap and race wins in an Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti. And no Googling; it's printed in the '96-'97 Autocourse annual.:sly:
 
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Was there ever a time when sports cars went quicker and faster than contemporary F1 cars on the same circuits? If so, to win please cite at least two convincing instances (drivers, cars, dates, time/speed) on both sides of the Atlantic. Your opinions, pix and anecdotes are welcome, even if you can't recite the exact stats.
 
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The only one I do happen to know was at Spa in 1970. Some quick legwork shows that Chris Amon set the fastest lap at the 1970 Belgian Grand Prix at 3:27.4 in a March but Pedro Rodriguez went 3:16.5 in a Porsche 917K just one week earlier at the Belgian round of the 1970 World Sportscar Championship.

As for another instance? I don't know. But you have to think it occured on a classic dual code track like Spa, Monza or the Nürburgring. Possibly the Hockenheimring or Brands Hatch, even. Maybe Watkins Glen.
 
@Liquid
Ah yes, Spa 1970, the last time F1 ran on the unloved full classic circuit. Sports cars persisted a bit longer, getting the record down to 3:12.9, Ickx in the Ferrari 312PB, 1973.

Perfect example of a sports car faster than F1. But we need more examples.


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Spa heroes: BRM P153, March 701 above, Porsche 917K below, Rodriguez inside Siffert.
 
If I remember right, the Can-Am qualifying record at Watkins Glen was faster than that of the F1 record, but I can't remember who or when.
 
TheBook
If I remember right, the Can-Am qualifying record at Watkins Glen was faster than that of the F1 record, but I can't remember who or when.
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You're definitely on the right track here. From the mid-sixties to the early seventies, Can-Am and F1 both raced on no less than three of the same circuits in North America, often with the same elite drivers at the wheel.



Jim Clark, Lotus 49, Mosport, 1967

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Jack Brabham, high wing Brabham BT26, St Jovite 1968
 
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It's not easy researching old sports car stats, so I'll make an attempt to answer my own question with some original research and documentation.


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1966 saw the birth of an incredibly exciting new series, the Can-Am for unlimited sports cars. It also saw the rebirth of Formula One, as displacement was doubled from an anemic 1.5 liters to a more robust 3.0 liters. I followed both, and had attended several of the West-coast big-money pro races for sports cars that preceded the Can-Am. This question delves into the comparative performance of the two cars. Which was quickest? From 1966-74, the life of the Can-Am, 18 races were held at St. Jovite, Mosport and Watkins Glen, while 17 races were held at the same circuits in the same time span by the F1 circus. So some comparisons are possible, especially considering they had many of the same drivers, and tires supplied mainly by Goodyear.

In the beginning, it was clear the Can-Am cars held the upper hand. For instance, by 1967 the Can-Am had been coming to Mosport for 2 years, and Denny Hulme (McLaren M6A-Chevy) had set pole at 1:20.8 and fastest lap at 1:20.7 (109.7 mph). The '67 F1 pole by Jim Clark (Lotus 49-Ford) was 1:22.4, with FL at 1:23.1 (106.5 mph).

However, by the end in 1974, it was clear Can-Am, over-regulated and lacking competition, was slower than F1. Indeed, in a demonstration match at Laguna Seca between Don Nichols' Shadow Can-Am cars (Oliver and Follmer) and his Shadow F1 cars (Jarier and Hunt), the heavier iron was humbled, spun and lapped.


Formula 1 vs Can-Am sports car - which was faster?

1966 Can-Am
St. Jovite.......Pole 1:38.4....Fastest Lap 1:37.3 (98.05 mph)
Mosport.........Pole 1:50.7....Fastest Lap 1:23.1 (106.5 mph)

1966 F1
Watkins Glen...Pole 1:08.42...Fastest Lap 1:09.67 (118.846 mph)

1967 Can-Am
Mosport..........Pole 1:20.8....Fastest Lap 1:20.7 (109.696 mph)

1967 F1
Mosport..........Pole 1:22.4.....Fastest Lap 1:23.1 (106.5 mph)
Watkins Glen...Pole 1:05.48...Fastest Lap 106.0 (125.455 mph)

1968 Can-Am
- no races these circuits -

1968 F1
St. Jovite..........Pole 1:33.8....Fastest Lap 1:35.1 (100.315 mph)
Watkins Glen.....Pole 1:04.2....Fastest Lap 1:05.22 (126.955 mph)

1969 Can-Am
Mosport............Pole 1:18.2....Fastest Lap 1:19.5 (111.25 mph)
St. Jovite..........Pole 1:31.7....Fastest Lap 1:33.8 (101.7 mph)
Watkins Glen.....Pole 1:02.21...Fastest lap 1:02.6 (132.27 mph)

1969 F1
Mosport............Pole 1:17.4.....Fastest Lap 1:18.1 (113.345 mph)
Watkins Glen.....Pole 1:03.62....Fastest lap 1:04.34 (128.691 mph)

1970 Can-Am
Mosport............Pole 1:16.8.....Fastest Lap 1:18.0 (113.492 mph)
St. Jovite..........Pole 1:33.0.....Fastest Lap 1:34.3 (101.17 mph)
Watkins Glen.....Pole 1:02.76...Fastest Lap 1:05.8 (125.84 mph)

1970 F1
St. Jovite...........Pole 1.31.5.....Fastest Lap 1:32.2 (103.467 mph)
Watkins Glen......Pole 1:03.07...Fastest Lap 1:02.74 (131.973 mph)

1971 Can-Am
Mosport...............Pole 1:17.3.....Fastest Lap 1:18.8 (112.343 mph)
St. Jovite.............Pole 1:32.9.....Fastest Lap 1:33.6 (101.93 mph)
Watkins Glen........Pole 1:05.11....Fastest Lap 1:06.083 (132.84 mph)

1971 F1
Mosport................Pole 1:15.3.......Fastest Lap 1:43.5 (85.522 mph) (rain)
Watkins 5.434km...Pole 1:42.642...Fastest Lap 1:43.474 (117.495 mph)

1972 Can-Am
Mosport................Pole 1:14.2......Fastest Lap1:15.2 (117.766 mph)
Watkins Glen.........Pole 1:39.187...Fastest Lap 1:44.300 (116.560 mph)

1972 F1
Mosport................Pole 1:13.6......Fastest Lap 1:15.7 (116.929 mph)
Watkins Glen.........Pole 1:40.481...Fastest Lap 1:41.644 (119.611 mph)

1973 Can-Am
Mosport................Pole 1:14.1......Fastest Lap 1:18.0 (113.492 mph)
Watkins Glen.........Pole 1:38.848...Fastest Lap 1:40.0 (122.74 mph)

1973 F1
Mosport................Pole 1:13.697....Fastest Lap 1:15.496 (117.256 mph)
Watkins Glen.........Pole 1:39.657...Fastest Lap 1:41.652 (119.596 mph)

1974 Can-Am
Mosport................Pole 1:14.5.......Fastest Lap 1:14.6 (118.66 mph)
Watkins Glen.........Pole 1:39.969...Fastest Lap...........(119.35 mph)

1974 F1
Mosport................Pole 1:13.188....Fastest Lap 1:13.659 (120.181 mph)
Watkins Glen.........Pole 1:38.978....Fastest Lap 1:40.608 (120.837 mph)


1973-Porsche-917-30-Can-Am-Spyder-Top.jpg

1973 Porsche 917/30 Can-Am Spyder
- 1100 hp race, 1580 hp qualifying
- in a special test, lapped Talladega at 221.160 mph
 
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During the 1980s turbo era in F1, which car and driver attained the highest recorded absolute speed?

If you can, the actual clocked speed would be handy too.
 
I believe it was around 1986 when a McLaren MP4/2 clocked around 205MPH, I think it was at either Monza or Hockenheim. My geuss will then be Alain Prost in the McLaren MP4/2C
 
SVT Cobra GT
Gerhard Berger in the Benetton at Mexico?
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Sorry, incorrect. And in fairness to JASON_ROCKS' answer, it was in 1987, not 1986. Small error on my part.

Berger does have the second fastest speed though. Aided by the astonishing turbocharged I4 BMW M12 engine, which had a reported output of 1,400hp in qualifying trim, Gerhard Berger hit 218.23mph / 351.22kph in his B186 during qualifying for the 1986 Italian Grand Prix.

But someone else went even faster in 1987.
 
This should be pretty easy:
The 2003 Spa 24 Hour race marked the first time in the history of the FIA GT that the lowest class car (NGT in this case) has won the race. Which car and team took the win?
 
Long Beach, Phoenix.

Something like that.

Edit: Then again, I see a Ford Transit. Recalibrating to Europe; Pescara?
 
Who were the only two International F3000 champions that never drove (at least, as of this post) an F1 car during a world championship weekend?
 
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