World Superbike racer Troy Corser recently swapped seats with Formula One driver Nick Heidfeld and experienced firsthand how the other half lives for a quick, two lap session. After piloting the 700 horsepower BMW Sauber Formula 1 car, the two-time Superbike world champion said that "the tires have unbelievable grip and the steering is very direct but still has a lot of feeling. I can’t believe how hard and late you can brake."
Heidfeld seemed to have more of an-- um, exploratory experience. "I already had lots of fun practising on the street bike in the morning, and managed to score the first scrapes into the knee area of my racing suit," the 32 year-old German said. After noting that the difference between the street version of the S1000RR and the race bike is "huge," he went on to say that "The handling is very precise," acknowledging that "Obviously I’m still miles from the limit with the superbike."
Two laps are but a twinkling of an eye when it comes to familiarizing yourself with high-powered machinery, and it would have been absolutely epic if Corser had dueled with Heidfeld in a motorcycle vs. car battle royale... I guess we'll have to leave those types of dream comparos to the likes of Fifth Gear.
Sources: Bikes in the Fast Lane, BMW Motorsport
Related:
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- BMW S1000RR Road Bike Photo Gallery
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Photos © BMW AG
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I don’t think Troy would have stood a chance vs Heidfeld. I think the corner speeds of an F1 car are much higher than any bike.
Xian…you’re absolutely right. Not a bike in the world that can corner or stop with an F1 car. Straight line acceleration…no problem, but cornering and stopping…nothing like an F1 car.
This has been done before….Rossi / Schumaker for one and they we’re both pretty damn good on the others home seat. Schumaker has ridden the Ducati GP bike as well and could probably beat the bottom 30% of the field. A few years ago Hayden and Michael Andretti traded Nickys RC51 and Andrettis CART car.
I guess when you’ve got it, you’ve just got it.
But I’d still like to see it!
Oh yeah! Me too….
That not Troy, its Ruben Xaus