The Ultimate Test Drive - part 3 - by Autocar.co.uk

[rrooccaa]

i would sell my left leg to drive an F1 ......good thing i wouldnt need if i did.

[arena2101]

I want to see Harris vs Suttcliff!!!

[biocybernaut]

Sutcliffe's driving is very impressive!

[kosamf]

good job...

[badman2504]

this guy's got skill, good drive that

[malinakis1]

this guy is a bloody good driver 

[jmcc42uk]

i thought harris was a racing driver as well ?

[gnarkillkicksass]

@jmcc42uk Harris just races for fun I think, not professionally.

[arena2101]

Rich looks much more badass than Chris Harris did in his F1 drive... then again it could be autocar being salty that he peaced out on them....

[mouloudo]

@arena2101 hammond stalled many times

[Fourteen88SoCal]

Dear Santa...

[LukeTalking]

At 1:47 you really see the balance of these cars.

[bugsy791]

he did much better than chris harris in the jag

[CroswhiteK]

He looked like a god compared to Hammond and Harris' F1 drives.

[Hadidi89]

@CroswhiteK actually hammond and harris are normal presenters especially richard hammond who doesnt have any backround in racing. Steve sutcliffe was a racing driver before and he wasnt that bad at racing so u can compare sutcliffe with tiff needell who drove a f1 car before and tested a williams back in 2004 i think, or even jason plato who is a presenter but at the same time hes a racing driver.

[waynewin7]

he is really good at driving. nice jod steve

[lambshead100]

i would love to drive one ov them someday haha

[wilatemodel]

what does all the F1 teams do with their old cars?

[animeonperseest]

@wilatemodel store them or put them on showrooms

[wilatemodel]

any 4 sale ?

[animeonperseest]

arrows f1 cars are still used widly so I quess you could find one. F1 teams also auction cars from time to time

[idonotcair]

steve got skill most ppl would just die i would ,but i wouldn't say no

[pm7movies]

love to drive tht badboy

[bfransman]

this has to go on the bucket list.must be an amazing experience.Sutcliffe was brilliant.two thumbs up

[cyborgjk]

I love racing on silverstone in forza 2. I can't imagine how amazing that would be in real life.

[DAH210774]

R.I.P Honda, I really wonder what the Brawn would've been like with it's original Honda engine in it, such a shame for Honda after all there work - however well done Brawn and Jenson and Rubens, c'mon the boys!!

[Suprahampton]

I dont think they'd have won races with the Honda engine but they'd be like Toyota is... higher up the grid than 2008... just not there yet.

[drrn10]

ur an awesome driver

[john25992]

Did great there for the first time, that second that was very good.

[rafa281]

ppl tend to make a myth out of driving an F1 car. The ability needed to do so is highly overrated IMO.

[clay111]

its the extra second that is the hardest mate. thats wat seperates a good driver from a great driver

[NateDawg80126]

lol, coming from someone who has never driven any sort of race car I presume.

[rafa281]

Sorry to disappoint bro, but I have.

[dombou70]

It's not super overrated, but I agree it's not as hard as people make it out. Any muppet could manage 95% of a race pace time. It's the last second or two that gives drivers there talents. They're also likely a lot more instinctual when problems arise (oversteer etc). I'm not saying driving one of these is easy, it's just rubbish that people say "The average person could not drive one of these AT ALL".

[rafa281]

Totally agree. Of course, you can't get into a racing car thinking you're gonna be a super-counter-steering-hero from the get go. It takes a lot of practice and technique. But once you've gotten good enough at go-karts, there's no race car you can't drive at a decent, fast pace.

[Glasseh]

I think that a racing driver might be able to keep his lap speeds more stable. And just being able to endure all of the strain that is being put to your body.

Steve tells how much his neck is having to work against all the G's the F1 is pulling through the corners.

[dombou70]

For sure, but part of that would be talent as well as being super fit. David Coulthard said he had the talent to beat Schumacher, but not every day, because he lacked the outright consistency.

[nmsQ]

I'd love to see you try, even at a slow speed. Sutcliffe, a mere mortal yes, but british touring car race driver nonetheless.

[rafa281]

Senna once said himself that go-carts have quite the same basic reactions of an F1-car. No wonder he LOVED go-carts so much.

[Arai4lpinestars]

Luckiest bloke in the world. I'm not familiar with Silverstone but I can drive that RA107 on Suzuka Circuit or Fuji Speedway if i win the lottery... =)

[rafa281]

If your quick in a go-cart, your prolly quick in this.

[nmsQ]

Oh please, its a completely different vehicle altogether.

[rafa281]

How is it a "completely" different "vehicle"?? It's RWD, it's as steady as an F1, all things considered, of course and it's hard to drive on the limit. Of course, you have to put things into perspective here. You can't compare these two "vehicules" by their numbers, such as power to weight ratio. Rather, you should be comparing them through their similar behaviours on the limit.

[rafa281]

A go kart has no suspention, which takes it closer to an F1 car's feel considering an F1 car's suspension is designed to be as sturdy and stiff as possible, with the least amount of travel possible.

[Dreadzedan]

Plus the middle seating too.

[moq26]

very impressive for an f1 novice

[NateDawg80126]

Agreed, especially considering how Richard Hammond managed in the Renault.

[nmsQ]

Don't forget Sutcliffe is a racing driver, he has half the task waxed.

I think Richard was just too shit-scared of the Renault's ability, Sutcliffe keeps a cool head and drives the Honda like it's supposed to be driven.

[NateDawg80126]

I didn't know he was a racing driver, that explains a lot. Regardless, it was an impressive drive.

[Eurofighter2499]

I assume you're talking about Richard Hammond. In which case i agree with you. Also Hammond had a really shite track and no knowledge of racing let alone experience

[DutchSpaniel]

Am i right in saying that Richard Hammond also drove the V10

[Nesto885]

@NateDawg80126 yes i agree but hamster was dealing with a lot more power from the v10 instead of a v8 and the traction control was really bad in the 2004 renault r25 even though alonso won the the world championship and the 2007 honda was now where near as special or as good as the renault. BRING THE V10'S BACK!!!

[scomberscombrus]

my peugoet 306'l beat that...wakey wakey time for ya coco

[alakseifer]

My brother says it goes faster than you can think. I'll take his word for it LOL.

[zulizin]

these are as fast as you will see without rockets strapped to em

[r1swedie]

I've driven sato's old F1 car from a few years ago and it is quite the kick in the back when you stomp the throttle to the floor. You hit 200+ km/h in a heart beat.

[sodazman]

O really?

[KKD808]

I must drive an F1 car before I die!

[JustinsDiecasts]

Me too! It must be an incredible experience! Wow!

[strosse]

yes same here!!!

[mi1234su]

@KKD808 make sure it s not just before you die

[veyronzondaf]

@KKD808 Absolutely! It just has to happen somehow!

[D3ffe]

So fucking awesome!

[spadgm]

Wow,he did pretty well with those track conditions,that would not be easy!

[PJ623]

Have to agree his driving was incredible. How much experience has he had in racing? Really is remarkable. Can't say i enjoyed the presenting throughout all that much though.

[ae8686]

wow, i wish they would give me a chance to drive that.

[alceuzinho]

Very good job! The best fast laps from a journalist in an F1 car by far. And yet, he did a beautifully clean run.

Congratulations Steve!!!

[milosh22]

Totally agree Superb, and consider the weight and the fitness difference between Steve and the kid:)

[JohnW220Turbo]

Think he did rather a bit better than when Hammond tried on top gear, lol. Ok I know he's in a different league as a test driver but still gotta give total respect for that, was a great bit of driving and made a very good video to watch, can't even imagine what it must be like driving one of them. 5 starts from me. :-)

[overdrivesdl]

Total respect Steve. With all that pressure, and fear of failure taken into consideration, that was one hell of an achievement! Given more time and with an increase in confidence your lap times would only fall further. Superb.

[AlonsoLegend]

Less than half a second off for a regualar Autocar journalist-bloody impressive.

[markaj123]

Good job Steve!

[lesmcluffalot]

Kewlios

[Serendip1ty]

very very nice

[rp997]

Enjoyed the series of clips for the The Ultimate Test Drive. Good stuff.

[MaxSafeheaD]

He SO want's a drive that fella! TBH if I had his job, I couldn't imagine much else to beat it either ... ... I'll walk back to my MK2 GTI just a bit slower from now on =( maybe one lottery win later I'll get to drive a proper car ... or perhaps save for a Radical SR8 =D

[jsbarr]

That would be one hell of an experience, well done Steve that was one hell of a lap!

[rr1430]

well done steve!

[charliethebat]

It's bad enough that there is so much Top Gear on YouTube to make you look amateurish. Steve, you should be concentrating on spellchecking the magazine.

We want Chris Harris.

[jamesdadrumma]

Nice one! Even with a poofta pad.