Best sounding race car?
Race cars more often than not sound amazing. But what is the very best?
In this article I'll be choosing my top sounding race cars. To keep it short and sweet i'll keep this list to ten so I have bound to have missed some epic sounding cars. This is not in any particular order.
If you have a car you think should've made the list be sure to link a video in the comments below.
#10 Mazda 787B
The Mazda 787B is famous for being the only rotary to win Le Mans. The 787b used a newly designed 4 rotor coded the R26B. The R26B featured a 4 rotors and had similar displacement to the 13j it replaced, but included new design elements such as continuously variable intakes and three spark plugs per rotor instead of the 20B's two. This allowed for a maximum power output of 900 hp (670 kW) Which means it has an astonishing specific output of 358 bhp per litre.
787B at Lemans Classic.
#9 Alfa Romeo 155 Ti V6
Is this best sounding Alfa of all time? Has to be up there. The 155 Ti V6 had a high revving V6 engine mated to a 4 wheel drive system. The engine produced 420 bhp @ 11500 rpm. The engine was later update to a 2.5l 90 degree V6 which was loosely based on the PRV engine from Peugeot. They upped the power to 490hp and the redline was moved to 11900 rpm. A screamer of a engine. Intake noise is insane on this engine.
Marco Gramenzi driving the Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti at Paolino Teodori in 2014
#8 Porsche 911 991.2 RSR
The 991.2 RSR features a 4.0l flat 6 which produces around 500bhp and 9000 rpm. However power level depends on the size of the air restrictor. Originally the car featured 2 side exit exhausts and sounded okay, similar to the 996 RSR. But, at Lemans they rolled out an updated exhaust which was more free flowing and the pipes became central exit again. This updated exhaust made it one of if not thee best sounding car competing in the WEC. It screams...
IMSA spec RSR at Watkins Glen
#7 Lamborghini Murcielago R-SV GT
The R-SV GT1 had the same engine as the standard car, a magnificent Bizzarrini V12. But, being a homologated racecar, air restrictors limited power. Despite restrictions it still produced around 650hp @ 8000 rpm. The drivetrain did have a few modifications though, most notably the gearbox. It used a Holinger M6S 6 speed sequential gearbox compared to the single clutch gearbox found on the road car. This Means the shift sounds utterly savage. Oh and best of all, it spits flames on the overrun. Classic shape and a howling engine.
Remember the flames I mentioned?
#6 Ferrari F50 GT
This car sounds fantastic. However, there is only 3 in existence so finding footage of the car is nearly impossible. Ferrari developed the F50 GT to compete in GT1-class racing. Based on the F50 road car it had some modifications to meet regulations. The car had a fixed roof, large rear spoiler, new front spoiler and many other adjustments. The 4.7 litre V12 engine was tuned to generate around 739 bhp at 10,500 rpm and 529 Nâ‹…m of torque at 8,000 rpm. A test held in 1996 proved the car to be quicker even than the 333SP, but this went unnoticed as Ferrari cancelled the F50 GT project because it was unhappy with FIA allowing homologation special cars such as the Porsche 911 GT1 in the series. Shame, I wish ferrari would lighten up a little at times.
F50 GT on track. No idea on the circuit, sorry.
#5 Porsche 917k
The Porsche 917K is famous for being the car to give Porsche its first overall win at the famous 24H of LeMans. The car featured a massive Type 912 flat 12 engine displacing 4.5L-5.0L and produced between 500-600 bhp depending on displacement. This car, like all classic porsches, is air cooled. The manual gearbox didn't have synchromesh so drivers had to double declutch leaving to a long pause between the surge of power. Tremendous car and wonderful smooth sound.
917k at Lemans, 1970.
#4 Ferrari 412 T2
The 412 T2 is famous for being the last Ferrari F1 car to have a V12 engine. It is the only car to be powered by a 5-valve V12 in the 1995 season. Ferrari then switched to a V10 the following year. The engine was a 3.0l tippo V12 that produced 730hp at 17,000rpm. The 412 T2 featured a transverse, semi-automatic sequential 6-speed gearbox with reverse with an electronic limited-slip differential. The V12 has always had a glorious sound and no one, auguebly, does the V12 better than Ferrari. This being their last V12 means it's a historic car and sounds beautiful.
Jean Alesi powering the 412 T2 in 1995
#3 Matra Simca MS670C
This was the car that powered Graham hill to his victory at the 24H of Lemans back in the 1970's. The car has a high revving 3.0l V12 that howls and screams louder than any of its rivals of the time. The car produced around 600hp at 10,500rpm. The engine was coupled to Matra's own 5-speed gearbox. It has a beautiful, howling-like sound, which can be heard from miles away. The livery isn't bad either.
Graham Hill and Henri Pescarolo's cars from 1972
#2 BMW M1 Procar
The BMW M1 Procar was built to compete in the Group 4 class in the World Championship for Makes. In 1979 and 1980 the car was used in a one make race series called 'Procar'. It was a support race for Formula One races and two F1 drivers won the championship in the two years it ran. Niki Lauda and Nelson Piquet. The car featured a 3.5L DHOC straight 6 that produced somewhere about 450hp at 9000rpm.
Niki Lauda's Procar.
#1 Jaguar R5
If you have read my previous articles on F1 cars you'll know I rather like the old Jaguar F1 cars. Though they were not successful they were a huge part of my childhood. With my father being one of the chief engineers at Cosworth at the time. The Jaguar R5 was the last Jaguar F1 car but was part of that golden era of screaming V10 cars. The car used a Cosworth CR6 90° V10 (internal code name for this engine was TJ.) The engine produced 900-1000hp at 19,000 rpm. One of the best sounds when on song.
Mark Webber is the Jaguar R5.
A special mention to the Mclaren F1 for being a car I wanted to add to this list but realised I already had ten cars. Consider this a bonus.
Pictures are sources from google images
Videos are by: Belgian Motorsport, 19Bozzy92, Tomedelic1 , Historic Racing HD, BRS0903 , Cristian Ferrari , bmwusanews and MOTOR1 US
Cheers, Iowan
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Comments (12)
Porsche 991.2 RSR... by far the best!
I prefer the sound of "normal" engines that rev up to maybe 9000-10000 rpm to the sound of formula cars and so on that just sream at like 15000 rpm and more. Thats why im not bothered by the sound of the new F1 turbo-era.
Panoz?
I'm a huge fan of the sound of the current bentley gt 3race cars, just an evil guttural growl!
You forgot the absolute winner, BRM V16. www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZMPDCNyQxE
Also, I can recommend Nick Mason's book Into The Red. It has the BRM sound on CD.