Compact Battle: Mini Cooper Vs Honda Fit at Road America

Looks like Patrick Wilmot needs some more straightline speed if he keeps getting passed by a Fit that looks like it is being driven by me in gran turismo 6. I was glad to see that nobody was taken out as a result from some of those slides.

That's a hard one to determine who would really help who. If the Fit got behind the MINI, he'd have to really back off and keep from running him over. When the turn comes up, since the MINI corners MUCH better, the Fit would quickly get left. If the MINI slots in behind, he might be able to keep up with the Fit on the straights, but would, again, destroy him in the turns and leave him standing.

If I was the Fit driver, I don't know that I would have pushed the MINI down the straights for fear of watching him pull away from me.

-Rob

That's a funny video, though I can not say I wouldn't have been frusturated driving the mini.

I think we CAN say it has a power or aero disadvantage VS the fit (and also that mazda2).

He keeps signalling the Fit driver to bump draft from behind, yet the Fit can readily pass on any straight. Forget that and go get the MINI engine rebuilt with a longer stroke

In reply to rob_lewis:

No doubt. I don't blame the Fit driver for overtaking on the straights. You've got to use your strengths. but what he does in the corners kind of negates that advantage. Might have served both of them better to keep in line. But that's all conjecture.

And for the record, Patrick is a VERY fast driver. I drove on a team with him in Endurance Karting's 24 Hours of America—yes, 24 hours of karting is as painful as it sounds—and largely thanks to Pat and one other driver we won our class by 7 laps.

At one point in time I had thought about building an ITB MINI Cooper to run at Waterford Hills. There aren't many straight bits at Waterford, it might just work out well.

That video there makes Honda fit ownership bearable. How is a fit passing a mini? Are the minis detuned?

In reply to Trackmouse:

All the cars are prepped to a similar level (B-spec class), but the Cooper only makes 120hp IIRC and is heavier than the Fit which isn't far off at 117. Gearing could have a lot to do with it too.

C&D drove a bunch of the B-spec cars when the class was more of a proposal than an actual thing, and it seems like a great way to go pro racing for relatively cheap.

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/b-spec-racers-honda-fit-vs-kia-rio5-mazda-2-mini-cooper-hatchback-comparison-tests

I can't even get my brain around that.

Gave me the best laughs today!