Ariel Atom V8 vs 600bhp rallycross Citroen DS3 vs BMW HP4 superbike drag race - autocar.co.uk

Which is faster? An Ariel Atom V8 track day toy, BMW HP4 superbike or a rallycross Citroen DS3 with 600bhp?

Here we have three completely different ways of going extremely quickly in a straight line. Time for a drag race then. So what are the contenders? There's the one-wheel drive BMW HP4 superbike, which arguably requires the most skill to extract speed from but has a ludicrous 757bhp/tonne power-to-weight ratio. Then there's the two-wheel drive Ariel Atom V8 with 748bhp/tonne and the Citroen DS3 Rallycross car with only 577bhp/tonne but all-important four-wheel drive. Oh, and did we mention it's wet?

What would you like to see go head-to-head in our next drag race? Let us know in the comments below

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Autocar, the world's leading motoring magazine and website, delivers industry-leading news, the most in-depth car reviews and opinion from our team of experts. Our presenters include some of the world's top motoring journalists who have unrivalled access to the world's fastest, rarest, most exotic and most exciting cars on some of the world's best roads and race tracks.

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[AdventureCayman]

All of that money to test these vehicles and they couldn't just postpone for a dry day. The video is pointless on such a wet track.

[pdub]

Drag racing in the rain???? Brilliant!!! Next up Drag racing in a blizzard!!!

[TarisRedwing]

that bike doing wheelies in the rain and pulling away...absolute mad man lol

[johntechwriter]

Ridiculous to do this in the rain but all the more credit to the motorcycle rider who had the skill and the balls to control that BMW on a wet track.

[AbzAden]

“ it’s a bit damp today...” the most British thing you can say lol

[Enorbs]

I like how they're more worried about the car's traction than the bike's.

[SethBergile]

100 mph in 1st gear!!! That is so cool! What a great time to be alive Gents!

[MehrdadNaderi]

stupid how they always do tests on wet days why???

[dunboozin]

Worried about 2 wheel drive and the BMW only has one.

[StreetKingzLife]

Next video do it in the snow to prove a point geniuses...

[Trollygag]

That's amazing the HP4 is that fast in the wet. It is a full second quicker in the quarter in the dry.

[jeffallinson]

All three of those machines have insane performance! I'd love a drive of the Atom!!

[Patriiiiick]

It's so impressive the bike did so well with such a small tire footprint in those sort of conditions.

[corneg]

Kudos to the dude on the bike in the wet. Well done mate!!

[WPTUNED]

why do this in the rain?? it's like wallpapering a shed in a typhoon!

[cernsb]

It went as expected for me. RallyCross cars are notorious for being incredibly quick off the line, but the incredible power to weight ratio of the Superbike means it can maintain really good acceleration for longer. The Ariel Atom is an incredible car, but due to a lack of traction and power compared to the RallyCross car, it was bound to be left behind in a drag race.

[yucannthahvitt]

Everyone in the comments says they want to see this in the dry, but the order would be the same. The wet weather gave the bike the biggest disadvantage and the atom would still have traction issues on a dry track and accelerate slower than the rally car.

[KBBF]

Did he say 100mph in 1st gear on the BMW!?

[stanleysimmonsreactions]

Why would you do a standing drag race in the race with an AWD car vs RWD? Should do a 60mph roll race to be fair.

[fpstina]

nothing says fair test like CAR vs MOTORCYCLE in the wet/cold...