RWD vs AWD - 1/4 mile drag race between a 2013 Mustang GT 5.0 with bolt ons and slicks and a tuned Audi R8 5.2 V10 manual

[Sticky]

Great race video with a good angle here showing two naturally aspirated manual cars going at it on the drag strip at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida. Both have similar displacement with the Mustang GT at 5.0 liters with its V8 and the Audi R8 at 5.2 liters with its V10 motor. The Mustang of course is rear wheel drive an the R8 all wheel drive. Both cars have bolt ons and tunes although the R8 also has lightweight parts.

So what is quicker and faster? The Audi R8. The Mustang absolutely rips the R8 out of the hole as its excellent 1.623 60 foot shows. The guy can drive and launches very well. The R8 just has too much horsepower on the top end and although the 1/4 mile elapsed time between the two is close at 11.3 for the Mustang versus 11.0 for the R8 the trap speed difference of 10 miles per hour shows the R8 pulling much harder up top.

This is the same R8 V10 that was posted on AudiBoost yesterday as breaking into the 10's. On the 10 second run the R8's 60 foot was 1.771 showing that a rear wheel drive with less power and displacement can definitely out launch an all wheel drive car on the strip if prepped and driven properly.

Good video and race.

[Steve B. CBR]

Traction and torque is all it takes to defeat awd.

[Sticky]

Traction and torque is all it takes to defeat awd.

People forget rear wheel drive is the king of the strip.

[mjmarovi]

Bradenton eh? My local track eh? Hopefully I will get to run into these guys out at the track at the next street-heat night.

I'm not sure how this video or article shows RWD as being king of the strip though?

[Sticky]

I'm not sure how this video or article shows RWD as being king of the strip though?

Maybe this one will help?

[lulz_m3]

In all fairness, the trap speeds are going to be a great indicator of how closely matched these two cars are. Those slicks are probably taking 3-4 mph off the Gt's trap.

[Sticky]

In all fairness, the trap speeds are going to be a great indicator of how closely matched these two cars are. Those slicks are probably taking 3-4 mph off the Gt's trap.

The R8 is on drag rubber too.

[lulz_m3]

The R8 is on drag rubber too.

If the R8 is on drag radials he is likely not loosing any top end, maybe a little if he is running lower pressure. Slicks on the other hand completely annihilate any hopes of a good trap speed.

[mjmarovi]

Maybe this one will help?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAXf_GPwGFM

LOL, ok lets go extreme. Never said I disagreed with RWD superiority, but the example you used was a poor example....the RWD had a better launch and the AWD better top-end? Maybe you should have just posted a video of a top fuel dragster to start? Or why not show a Cobra Jet and a GTR?

[Sticky]

If the R8 is on drag radials he is likely not loosing any top end, maybe a little if he is running lower pressure. Slicks on the other hand completely annihilate any hopes of a good trap speed.

I don't think the Mustang is on bias-ply but I don't know.

[Sticky]

LOL, ok lets go extreme. Never said I disagreed with RWD superiority, but the example you used was a poor example....the RWD had a better launch and the AWD better top-end? Maybe you should have just posted a video of a top fuel dragster to start? Or why not show a Cobra Jet and a GTR?

The example I used was the best example.

Rear wheel drive cars rule the strip. It is what it is.

Regardless, people act like all wheel drive is superior or always launches better. That is not the case.

[Steve B. CBR]

In all fairness, the trap speeds are going to be a great indicator of how closely matched these two cars are. Those slicks are probably taking 3-4 mph off the Gt's trap.

A slick isn't going to take 3-4 mph off trap speed. I'm saying no more than 2, and there's way too many variables for this to even be remotely accurate. The only reason why it's typical a street car on street tires with 60' lower but trap somewhat higher is because of momentum prior to the first 300'. That mustang on a street tire is a 11.6-11.7 at 121-122 mph if capable of a 1.8 60' on street tires.

[lulz_m3]

A slick isn't going to take 3-4 mph off trap speed. I'm saying no more than 2, and there's way too many variables for this to even be remotely accurate. The only reason why it's typical a street car on street tires with 60' lower but trap somewhat higher is because of momentum prior to the first 300'. That mustang on a street tire is a 11.6-11.7 at 121-122 mph if capable of a 1.8 60' on street tires.

I have to disagree, just lowering tire pressure from 34 psi to 17psi on a street tire setup can take 2 mph off your trap speed. A set of slicks at 15ish psi will shave off more than a few mph.

[Steve B. CBR]

I have to disagree, just lowering tire pressure from 34 psi to 17psi on a street tire setup can take 2 mph off your trap speed. A set of slicks at 15ish psi will shave off more than a few mph.

I did some stalking but apparently this guy has only ran a street tire with nitrous! So it's irrelevant.

[TT C6]

People forget rear wheel drive WITH HEATED SLICKS are the king of the strip.

Fixed it for ya.
AWD > RWD for street tires on the street.

[Sticky]

What was the implication? To not use drag rubber on a drag strip?

[AWD75]

Very nice video! Looks like 3.73's(if he hasnt changed it) helped the 5.0 a lot during the launch, but r8 was reeling him in fast on the big end. Props to R8 owner by getting the car w/manual transmission, modding and actually racing it!

[Sticky]

Props to R8 owner by getting the car w/manual transmission, modding and actually racing it!

Agreed.

[PLATINUM1320tv]

Its always nice to see a mustang beating a awd off the line