Nürburgring Nordschleife BTG  

Hi everyone, I see a lot of questions and theories reagarding my gearbox and it is actually pretty fun to read but I thought I could help out and clear out some questions marks. The car originally had a OEM 6 speed and can be seen driven with that box in other videos. Today the car has a classic 5 speed H-pattern and a different final drive. It started life as a standard NC 5-speed box but the gear rations inside are different than stock, they are closer. I only use 2nd, 3rd and 4th on the Ring and that is done on purpose. 4th gear is 1:1 ratio so the least amount of energy losses through the gearbox hence I want to have that as the top gear for all those up-hill sections etc. All other gears matches perfectly now with my increased rev-limiter and larger OD tyres (245/40 17). Yes, I could have put a shorted FD and used 3-5 instead but that would have been worse overall since I need to shift more ofter and will again run out of revs before braking points and have greater energy losses in 5th as it isn´t 1:1. No dog-box, no dog leg or any other animals in my MX-5 :-). I hope this clears out some thoughts... Cheers!

Things are progressing slowly with the car, so thought I´ll respond to another common question regarding the open differential. Yes, it has a completely open diff. I would like to say that a LSD isn´t needed if a car is setup properly but for the sake of not being killed by the world wide web I´ll put it like this: If you have a naturally aspirated car with low power in relation to the grip you have and also run on real racetracks where avg speed is higher than eg autocross etc - you actually don´t need a LSD. The LSD actually robs you from power (simplified). It tries to equalize the speed between the right and rear driven wheel (and will continue to do so until you are driving in a straight line) thus actually works against you steering input. So, everything else equal, you need to steer more (thus also slowing down more) in order to achieve the same rotation/turning radius, because the LSD tries to straighten you out. And the more you steer, the more speed you lose. Yes, some will debate that a "torque biasing LSD" instead of a "friction plate LSD" will have less of these tendencies and I could agree to some extent but then you have the case of thinking that you always have an LSD but you haven´t because both wheels need to be on the ground so it starts to become unpredictable because you can go from full "lock" to no lock, when you think you have lock. An open diff is very predictable, it will always spin the inner wheel if there isn´t enough traction and that scenario can be modulated with the right foot potentiometer. So, putting an LSD in this particular car, for driving on the Nurburgring, would actually make it slower. Yes, slower. "Then why do all "real" sportcars have LSDs" (and MX-5s do too from the factory BTW). - Well, I am not saying they are bad by default because they aren´t. I am just saying that in my particular application and intended use it would actually slow me down. In a daily driven car or in a car where I also want to drift around (dry or wet), AutoX or play around with in the local roundabouts I would choose a car with LSD, any LSD, every day of the week. And here is the plot-twist... I have actually considered an LSD. Why? Well, I like to have fun and drive when it rains on the trackday too. Since the grip is sooooo much lower in the wet, which is the same effect as having a lot more horsepower, the car would benefit from an LSD in those cases. It is also a safety-thing actually. If I end up in a wide drift because of any reason, it might be hard to hold it with an open diff thus I would risk one-wheel-spinning, getting grip in the back, and getting understeer that would push the front wide (read: Hitting the armco nose-first) instead of keeping the drift around the corner and continuing. So, what would I choose IF a go down that line? I would go for a friction plate LSD with as many surface areas as possible for stable behaviour and low maintanence but I would set it up to just do a tiny-tiny amount of locking. As little as possible. That bare minimum lock to help out in those cases in the wet or when jumping over curbs etc, but not robbing speed/creating understeer according to the explanation above. I hope you enjoy reading this. Kind Regards, Robert

This is the cleanest lap of the Nordschliefe I have ever watched. Absolutely incredible! One to be remembered

Oh how I wish I could see the pass on that 911 at 2:17 from the Porsche's perspective. Dayummmm. Also, that GT-R was absolutely flying.

This was great to watch and to see you drive it irl! Too bad you didn't have a passenger seat, so I could not stalk you for a passenger lap :p

Holy shit you really are the definition of driver mod.

Legendary. Proper nice work with the car and the driving. CHAPEAU mon ami!

Anyone notice his throttle to brake ratio? The man was on FULL THROTTLE almost the entire run!😳 He barely touched the brakes!😆 Wow! 🤯

This was so mesmerizing, I couldn’t stop watching, and the SOUNDS! Awesome👌🏼

That is easily the scariest lap I have ever seen. I dont even drive like that in Assetto Corsa. Massive respect, Insane drive, beautiful on the limit control.

Great driving, man! I had a great time talking to you during the past 2 days, I hope we'll meet again. Thanks for your love for sharing and for being such a cool guy, keep it on!

Craaaaazy car and driver. That is so fast for a Miata! Looked absolutely fun to drive...

Ok who disliked this video? Was it a Mustang owner?

I keep watching this over and over again. You are a King!!!!

I thought you’d never lift off the gas!!! Impressive! Car is a screamer! Love Miatas.

Unbelievable stuff. Robert's previous videos actually led me to buy an NC. Much love

you were catching that nissan gtr on corners

The portion of the track that is done at full throttle is crazy! Very good grip from the car and incredible “courage” from the driver!

when people say the Miata is a "girl's car" I'm going to show them this

Fastest boat ever!!! brilliant driving 😍

Awesome drive , I love how the engine screams like it will explode any second but keeps going. I tracked mine 2.0 untill 177.000mi and swap to 2.5 now .

I find this really relaxing.

Love the superskill of the driver and the kinematics of the car! Thumbs UP!

Great performance from both driver & car This video shows that you don't necessarily need a supercar to enjoy an impressive lap in the Ring

What an amazing performance, driving skills of the chart and the little mx5 seems to be exceptionally well tuned. Great job guys 😃

Wicked lap my boy

That's exactly how I drive the Nordschleife! The difference is, I do it on the Playstation and I if I miss an apex and crash the guardrail I can just restart the race... And also I'm slower...

Dream drive, normally-aspirated, simply awesome…

This must be one of the best, if not the best lap I've ever seen.

I was watching on a big screen home theater, 4:32 took me by surprise 😂🤯🤯

Wow. It's fun to watch someone drive a Miata to its limits. 7:37 is a great time. It's fun see how much speed you can keep in the turns.

I used to think the Mx5 was just a "girl's car". Videos like this are why the car has grown on me

These videos are by far my favorite on RU-vid. People ask me who my favorite driver is, I show them this channel. Edit: That has got to be a Miata record of some sort.

That engine sounds amazing.

I would actually pay to follow you for one or two laps. Very smooth lines!

This is unreal driving skill on display, as well as humungous brass...

The lap time you set with so little done to your NC Mx-5 truely shows how incredible of a driver you are and the car's potential. Great eye openining experience and I feel more excited about my new NC Mx-5 as well.

Fantastic to watch, thanks for posting 👍

Impressive mate - that's a clean lap ! This clearly shows you can make great performance without having 400 bhp... Congrats to the driver.

Way to show the others how fast can a boat go with skill. Good work

Thank you for videos and comments ❤

The description of the shifting issue with the Max RPM Rangers pretty much an accurate description !!

Terrific lap ...........thanks for sharing it !

Robert: Smoking every car on the Nordschleife, including multiple Porsches That one GTR Driver: *I'm gonna stop you right there*

Beautiful lap. People like to clown on the NC but it’s got better bones to start with as a track car than the other generations.

That's some incredible driving

The best mx5 ever! 🔥

Love seeing that there's at least 1 other driver pushing their car to the limit (GT-R).

In an MX5! I thought it was an aero type car. That was amazing driving!

You can tell he really wanted to chase that GTR

Amazing.

This car made a short cameo in one of Mishas videos, the new roof looked interesting. Needless to mention it but, Great Lap !!!

no need aero works because : -the driver has enough balls to keep the car stick on the track -the driver's crazy -the driver is the Koenigsegg's test driver👍

No insects were harmed during the making of this video. :) Great lap!

Coming into that corner at 0:47 .... man you were flying, I’d have been terrified!

So that's why an MX5 is so much fun.

That miata was probably begging for mercy after that lap

People in their VW GTis telling me MX5 Miata is not a sports car

It's so fun to watch good drivers on the ring ... that GTR scared me though ;D

Love the occasional fender rub.

It seems like an extra 50 hp would be perfect, that exhaust sound is awesome

Amazing to watch. Got some good tips off of this, im on a journey to improve my lap time in Assetto Corsa, I struggled to get a 10min lap time in the Miata NA, will put what I've seen here in to practice. Great HUD you put together for us too👌👍

That’s some great driving! Looks fun wringing that car out.

I was like "wtf, why this guy don't throw 6th gear?" then I read the mod list and discovered it is an 5 speed gearbox 😂 Sound great man, greetings from Mexico

didn't know if I should laugh or cry watching the GTR blow past him

One day I'll take a lap or 10.....My wife will be living in Germany for 3 months in a year. I'll be staying there for a month and will try to hit the track a few times to learn the actual conditions, then take a class to run it at higher speeds. I've been running the ring in a Sim cockpit for over a decade now. We have a similar line throughout the track. Well done sir on the build and the good driving. Just last night I was tearing down the back roads in my NB.

What a pilot! Bravo

Good to see you back at it! Superb drive

Epic. Just epic! Amazing driving, as usual. :)

that nissan gtr was like: bye have a great time :D

I see at least 11 S2000 owners watched this, hence the 11 thumbs down....

I like seeing him see something in his rear view and that pass @ 4:33

nice car tuning :) damm i want see the car from outside

This shows that with a car that barely breaks the 210kph mark, you can make some awesome time on the 'ring :) Driving pleasure can be found in any ride ^^ (that Skyline though hahaha)

Playing catch up with GTR. Nice. 👓

Im speechless.

amazing drive

Absolutely amazing 👌

Wow incredible lap. I can only imagine how fast you'd be if you supercharged it! 😉

Awesome driving skill there dude! The only thing I'd like to say is that I'd love to see an NA 20B rotary in there!

Wow. Quite amazing lap.

amazing driver, amazing car.

I wonder what you can do with just a simple Turbo setup! Great driving, fucking love it

Now I know, my car (2014 NC2) and I are not well matched... that must be one of the best times ever for a normally aspirated MX-5 NC. Or, maybe any flavor MX-5!

Great driving!

Holeee fuck. 7 and a half min with a miata. I am impressed. Damn great work

Serwanski was not the Koenigsegg test driver? Amazing driving! Congrats!

Sam Corson Lap dance for lap time - seems fair enough.

This... is.. awesome!! 🤤

I was cheering for you to catch up to that Corvette after it passed. :-)

Great driving skills! Would u pls share more pics about your car sometime?

No rear ARB, I’d be interested in the thinking behind that one, especially on such grippy tyres. I find the rear of my NC leans unacceptably and I’m on similar spring rates front and rear with coilovers.

im gonna... im gonna.. IM COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMINNGGGGGGG

Brilliant drive mate.

Man you are a fucking beast! Awesome driving!

Amazing driver

Amazing video! what a lap. Great driving. What exhaust system is this running?

That GT-R was moving OUT.

Just me who noticed that this is Robert Serwanski ( Pro racer & Koenigsegg Test Pilot) ?? :) LEG-END-DARY!!

That sound!