I agree on both counts as I am a German and lived there for a short period, and without a doubt consider The Green Hell the best test bed for performance cars.
If you are into magazine test, C&D just did the Lightning Lap test at VIR. Don't know why the z06 and porsches where missing this year. Also no LL4 cars. LL3 just had the GTR and ACR. (pretty lame)
The Lightning Lap, 2008 - Feature/Features/Classic Cars/High Performance/Hot Lists/Reviews/Car and Driver - Car And Driver
LL1 (under $30,000)
LL2 ($30,000–$60,000)
LL3 ($60,000–$120,000)
LL4 ($120,000–$240,000)
LL5 (above $240,000)
LL5 MOSLER MT900S...................................2:45.9
LL3 DODGE VIPER SRT10 ACR........................2:48.6
LL5 FERRARI 430 SCUDERIA..........................2:54.6 (my favorite car)
LL3 NISSAN GT-R.......................................2:55.6
LL2 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z51....................3:01.2
LL2 CADILLAC CTS-V..................................3:04.0
LL2 BMW M3.............................................3:0 5.6
LL2 MERCEDES-BENZ C63 AMG.....................3:06.5
LL1 CHEVROLET COBALT SS TURBOCHARGED...3:13.0 WOW
LL2 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION MR.........3:13.3
LL2 BMW 135i............................................3: 13.7
LL2 LEXUS IS F..........................................3:14.0
LL2 AUDI S5..............................................3: 14.6
LL2 HONDA S2000 CR..................................3:15.0
LL2 DODGE CHALLENGER SRT8......................3:16.3
LL2 LOTUS ELISE SC...................................3:16.6
LL2 INFINITI G37 SPORT..............................3:17.5
LL2 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI.....................3:19.0 Wow Fail
LL1 DODGE CALIBER SRT4............................3:20.8
LL2 VOLKSWAGEN R32.................................3:21.8
LL2 HONDA CIVIC MUGEN Si..........................3:24.8
LL1 VOLVO C30 T5 VERSION 2.0....................3:26.6
My favorite car in the world beat by the ugly ass dodge.
You can't deny dodge did a great job on the viper acr. It was 7 sec faster than the GTR and 6 sec faster than the 430, and this is on a much MUCH smaller track than the ring.
I am very impressed with it. Maybe I will take a flat black one so it hides it's ugliness. lol