The lap times are not as a form of performance measure. It’s more to underline the concept of this evaluation.
Take for example the Sedici Model 2 that I tested. It was extremely powerful with a huge V16 and turbo’d. Probably far over 1000hp. Yet the (I think) less powerful Velo 445C and Kasai Calibri 1.8 got better lap times.
The Sedici Model 2 was barely driveable and thus performed worse with my driving skill then it would have in for example the test driving mechanism inside Automation. Whereas the Calibri and 445C were tame and easy to drive.
Another example is how some of my own creations vary in driveabilty. The example evaluation car took 03:02.006 around the circuit while another smaller car (from the same era) with a 5L V8 with far less power got around the circuit in 2:50-something because it was far more driveable.
TL;DR: The lap times aren’t really for performance. It’s to show how driveablity affects lap times in the hands of an average driver.