PCOTY 2022: Lap times and corner speeds

Hot lap testing has remained a mainstay throughout Performance Car of the Year's history and, for 2022, we went bigger and better than ever with more cars, double the awards, and one heck of a backdrop - Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit.

Gathering data in a fast-moving environment like PCOTY isn’t easy. We’d like to say a hearty thanks to Peter Campbell of VBOX Australia, who wrangled the Racelogic VBOX equipment we used for straight-line testing and lap data. Test cars were fitted with the latest VBOX Touch units, which measure at 10Hz and feature 4.3-inch colour touchscreen functionality.

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The task of testing one of the biggest fields in PCOTY history put a time squeeze on Luffy’s track sessions. We gave him one out lap and two timed flyers to extract the best number possible from each car. In the meantime, the next car is rigged and prepared.

Conditions were cloudy and cool, with temperatures approximately between 15-20 degrees. A few cases of intermittent light rain was quickly dried by strong coastal winds.

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In case you’re wondering why no Turn 5 or 7 data, they were ignored due to being a largely inconsequential kinks in the circuit.

Eagle-eyed readers may notice that a wild McLaren 720S has appeared in testing. It's not a competitor in this year's awards, it's actually Kirby's long-termer and we couldn't resist strapping on the timing gear and sending it out in the name of science. Its figures are marked with an *asterisk.

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Turn 01

The capable i30 Sedan N made an impressive show of speed into Turn 1, delivering the highest entry speed from the sub-$100k Sports Car division with an impressive 168.1km/h measured at the trap. The Subaru BRZ's efforts are also mightily impressive for the aspirated coupe.

The Porsche GT3 leans heavier on its Cup 2 tyres and aggressive aero package which helped it carry 181.4km/h into the fast and fearsome right-hander.

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Turn 02

A much narrower spread of trap speeds indicates an inherent lateral limit of grip that many road cars face through the long double-apex left.

Despite producing a lower power output than many of its competitors, the nimble i20 N and its razor sharp front end carry the highest speed through Southern Loop, while the M3, Boxster and GT3 measure precious tenths of a kilometre per hour, apart.

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Turn 03

A fast open left-hander gives the powerhouse Mustang Mach 1 and Lamborghini Huracan a chance to stretch their legs, leading the charge through Stoner Corner at a blistering 199km/h and 213.3km/h, respectively.

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Turn 04

Would anyone have guessed that, at any point in the track, a GR Yaris, Ford Focus ST and Subaru BRZ would be eclipsing the 992 GT3 in mid-corner velocity?

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Turn 06

Another tight corner flatters the trap speeds of the junior Sports Car division, with the Focus ST topping the charts, measuring 91.3km/h through Siberia. Even the humble Mazda MX-5 hustles through carrying more speed than the supercharged 5.0-litre V8 Jaguar F-Type.

The GT3 tops the Performance Car field, flexing its aero and rubber advantage over the wildcard McLaren 720S, which trails almost 7km/h slower at the same point.

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Turn 08

As the field rushes through Hayshed, the Huracan and McLaren are able to put the hammer down, both topping 192km/h through the fast kink.

In the Sports Car division, the Mach 1 Mustang and Hyundai i30 Sedan N comfortably lead proceedings, both carrying a 5km/h advantage over the next-placed Golf GTI.

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Turn 09

Hyundai's N Division leads the pack over Lukey Heights, but it's the Subaru BRZ that impresses with its ability to carry more speed than that of the much more powerful Mach 1 Mustang, GR Yaris and even the Corvette, Porsche Boxster and BMW M3 from the Performance Car class above!

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Turn 10

A big downhill braking zone into MG Corner sees the nimble i20 N post the fastest speed at the trap, utilising less of its brakes and more rapidly tapping back onto the throttle.

The heavyweight Taycan Turbo S tops the Performance Car class for the first point in the track, leveraging its trick torque vectoring, four-wheel steering and delivering its huge torque loads virtually instantaneously.

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Turn 11

The pair of Performance Blue Hyundais stamp their mark, posting the fastest trap speeds of all but the dominant 911 GT3.

Subaru's BRZ is the standout result, matching the Boxster 25 at the same point in the track, and measuring quicker than the Lamborghini Huracan Evo and sublime BMW M3.

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Turn 12

The final run home sees both hot lap leaders fastest through Turn 12 and onto the main straight, with the Mach 1 Mustang and GT3 measuring quickest.

The GT3 runs a full 7km/h faster of the Huracan and ballistic McLaren 720S.

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Lap times

The 911 GT3 was always going to emerge as this year's hot lap hero, but just a .5-second delta to the McLaren 720S has us wondering what the McLaren might have achieved with better tyres and a bit of aero.

The Huracan Evo was also hampered by modest Pirelli P Zero tyres and a lack of aero. It begs the question as to how a lighter, harder version of the Huracan might have fared.

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Lap time V-Max

Nothing could touch the terminal velocities achieved by the manic McLaren, which makes the GT3's ultimate lap time all the more remarkable.

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