[Pitkis]

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Yesterday I had som track time with my i8. The track was familiar to me having driven it for close to 1000 laps during years with different cars - mainly with my ex-E92M3 but range spans from GT-86 to 800 hp GTRs.

i8 didn't offer any surprises at track. The cars is fast and balance extremely good. Suspension is FAR better than E92M3 w/KW Clubsport and even better than F430. I didn't push car to the limits but still had couple of faster laps. Grip was good and I think this chassis can take much higher hp than i8 can offer. I felt a slight lack of hp in certain sections, but that wasn't due lack of power but instead of high absorption capability of the construction. I think i8 could accomodate 500-600 hp without any problem.

I have a video about laps, I'll drop it later on. Herewith couple of photos. Please note rear section of the car - you can really see aerodynamics of the package from these 600 mm telephotos. There's unique air channeling around rear tyres that is hard to understand while inspecting the car at close proximity.

And tyres - yes, you can't track them. 3 faster laps without any serious braking and they are clearly melted. Compound may not be very soft itself but these tyres can't stand track heat cycles nearly at all. I have to seek better tyres for next season in order to drive even shots stints. In practise you can't do track days at all with i8 OEM tyres.

Edit: video added

[JasH]

Thanks for sharing this info. Very interesting, and disappointing, about the tyres. It will be good to see which better, sticky, tyres we can find to replace the OEM ones with.

How did you find the understeer? Did you have any success in getting it to oversteer? Any ability to adjust attitude via the throttle?

How did the brakes stand up to repeated hard use?

Thanks again

[Pitkis]

Originally Posted by JasH

Thanks for sharing this info. Very interesting, and disappointing, about the tyres. It will be good to see which better, sticky, tyres we can find to replace the OEM ones with.

How did you find the understeer? Did you have any success in getting it to oversteer? Any ability to adjust attitude via the throttle?

How did the brakes stand up to repeated hard use?

Thanks again

I didn't use hard braking during laps, so can't comment braking at all. You will lose tyres much faster than brakes. I had plans to get some initial impressions with car and then have more laps, but after first warm-up session I wasn't able to drive more due melted tyres.

About understeer, yes, couple of times I noted some understeer, not much though. I think you can control it using throttle quite well. The chassis is so well balanced that it's pure joy to track this car. Rolling is almost non-existent and i8 is accurately under control all the time. Several similar impressions seen in 991 Carrera S which is also very easy to drive at track.

[JasH]

Thank you again for the info. Pity you did not get the chance to try out the car for longer.

I had planned to take mine to Brands Hatch when I received it, but am not so sure now. Might be better to do that when I select better tyres for it.

Even my cut slick tyres on my Lotus have some "melting", and those are designed for the track, and are on a car half the weight of the i8. But they do tolerate being driven hard on track for hours on end, despite the heat. That is with severe high G (1.3G+) cornering lap after lap, and severe on limit braking though.

I cannot imagine the i8's tyres being designed to cope with such heat cycling, or even just those kinds of temperatures. Looks like we need to find higher performance rubber

[Pitkis]

I'd suggest you to wait until we find a good solution for track tyres. Or, in case you still try, go _very_ carefully 2-3 laps and check tyres then.

I tried to fix video, but Youtube compressed it too much. I'll try again tomorrow. You'll get some impressions then

[Pitkis]

Originally Posted by JasH

Thank you again for the info. Pity you did not get the chance to try out the car for longer.

I had planned to take mine to Brands Hatch when I received it, but am not so sure now. Might be better to do that when I select better tyres for it.

I went through Pilot Supersport catalogue and they have 225 & 245 size tyres available for R20 wheels. Fit pretty well for i8. PSS is not a track tyre but might be reasonable compromise for i8 trackdays.

[StuM]

Thanks Pitkis, I wondered if anyone had studied the Pilot SS fitments. (I've just been too lazy, so far!) I've had very good luck with them on previous cars like a few R8's, F430 and Ford GT. All for street use.
Put a set of Mich Pilot A/S sports on a Z8 and they were great road tires for that more sedate sports cruiser too.

Hoping new rubber will help cure some of the real or perceived ill's on the i8.

Love the pix and feedback on your car. Mine will be an identical sister, when it arrives.

[Carac]

I love the supersports on my SLS and E39 M5. Best riding tire with the least road noise and they are still decent on track. Depending on how I end up driving the i8 I may choose them when it's time to replace the OEM.

[SANguru]

what tire pressures were you running?

[Pitkis]

Originally Posted by StuM

Thanks Pitkis, I wondered if anyone had studied the Pilot SS fitments. (I've just been too lazy, so far!) I've had very good luck with them on previous cars like a few R8's, F430 and Ford GT. All for street use.
Put a set of Mich Pilot A/S sports on a Z8 and they were great road tires for that more sedate sports cruiser too.

Hoping new rubber will help cure some of the real or perceived ill's on the i8.

Love the pix and feedback on your car. Mine will be an identical sister, when it arrives.

PSS come pretty close. I leafed throught fitment data and there will be slightly lower ride height but otherwise they should work. At track ride height is not a problem. 225 front and 245 rear. I think PSS is way to go. Only CF wheels needed....regarding tire pressures, I didn't adjust them in this very initial drive. 2,2-2,4 bar in each corner.

I hope you get your own soon! Great to see we have identical cars

[GOLFFRR]

def enjoying the ride! thats awesome to see.

[Vervain]

In what way is the suspension far better than the other two?

[Diver]

Low rolling resistance tires are not for the track.

[DieGrüneHölle]

Did you lose electric power as quickly as Motor Trend did in Best Driver's Car test? They lost electric power by lap 3 at Laguna Seca.

Their lap times were 6 secs different from lap 1 to lap 3.

[Sektion9]

Very cool, thanks for sharing!

Can't wait to hear how it is after some new tires!

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Good to see an owner getting it out on the track.

[cncmastr]

That looks fun! Thanks for sharing.

[norMcal]

What kind of mileage did you get

[dmz]

i8 chassis + s63 motor = M8 = instant R8 killer.

BMW are you listening?

[ORIGIN M.]

Maybe if we are lucky at LCI we will see the bigger ice engine as well as larger e-motors.

Originally Posted by dmz

i8 chassis + s63 motor = M8 = instant R8 killer.

BMW are you listening?

[ezmaass]

Originally Posted by dmz

i8 chassis + s63 motor = M8 = instant R8 killer.

BMW are you listening?

I wanted to like the i8, but for $140k+ it just doesn't have the performance to back its looks (which I think are just "ok")... hence I own an R8. The R8 was more money, but it offers actual supercar performance to match its good looks. I feel like the i8 is more of a science project, and while that's cool, I think BMW is still missing a competitor in this market segment for people actually looking for a car that can really perform.

[ORIGIN M.]

You have not pushed your car to limits and yet you say it bests a E92 M3 w/ KW Clubsport coil overs. Very interesting. Care to elaborate or expand on those thoughts?