SportsCar, national results on GS:

"the trophies were remarkably evenly distributed between the earlier supercharged r53 and later turbocharged r56 incarnations..."

I did search but was not able to find detailed r53 vs r56 comparison from solo racing prospective.

Has anybody extensively tried both?

It seem like r56 should do better, - more torque, lighter engine, it is even slightly lighter overall.

So, why there's no distinct advantage of one over another?

p.s. I bought r56 for my wife and do not autocross one. I autocross another creature, but just curious.

 

I will try to post the Pro's/Con's.......

R53.......
Higher top speed in 2nd gear - this is an advantage on faster courses, I want to say you can go 5-6mph faster in 2nd gear in an R53 vs R56(although don't know exactly)
Stiffer Springs - The R53 is a good bit more planted, easier to drive IMO, more predictable
No Throttle Cutoff with brake application - This is nice, you can set up your R53 a bit loose, slight brake application with throttle really plants the rearend, this helps during high speed slaloms and during rain events, then, if rotation is desired on other parts of the course, you'll have it...

R56.....
More torque - this helps with very slow corners with long straights
More Camber up front - helps during sweepers
Very slightly lighter - I have had R53's in the high 2400's, my R56 was 2439 bone dry out of gas stalled on the scale, lol
Throttle cutoff with brake application - This is very annoying, throttle cuts off for about a second if the brake is held down with throttle application for more than a second or so, this is enough to ruin a good run, the R53 doesn't do this.

Bottom line is, its completely course dependant on which model is quicker. I have tested both, not back to back, but, through the years, during rainy events, I think I prefer the R53. On sticky concrete with some slower turns followed by straights, I like the R56. On all the other events, I think both cars are equal, at least for myself. I think the 2nd place Finisher at nats, Savini, tested the R53 and R56 back to back and decided he prefered the R53, probably because that is what he is use to. For myself, obviously, I chose the R56.

 

Good info!

 

Thank you, this is very interesting information.

So you do left foot braking?

 

Yes, I should have mentioned that. LOL. If you do not left foot brake, then the throttle cutoff will not affect you.

 

I learned to use my left foot to brake, then tried this several times at events and found it has little or no effect on my current car (which is not a Mini, but FWD as well). But most likely I just didn't do it right.