Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Koenigsegg will try again for a Nürburgring lap record

By

Koenigsegg Agera R
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Last year, Swedish carmaker Koenigsegg announced plans to set a lap record at the Nürburgring, the treacherous German racetrack that has become a yardstick for production cars. But speed limits imposed by the track’s management nixed that plan.

The speed limits were lifted last month, so Koenigsegg will try again. Preparations will begin soon, but that doesn’t mean a record-breaking lap will actually be attempted this year, a company blog post said. Koenigsegg still needs to find a driver and a car to use in the actual record attempt, apparently.

Recommended Videos

“We won’t be doing a lap record in the immediate term, but we will be there [emphasis original],” the blog post stated. Koenigsegg knows its cars will be spotted at the track, and doesn’t want people to make assumptions about what it is doing during what is expected to be months of prep time. The company has tried to be as transparent as possible when it comes to the Nürburgring, hoping this will help further legitimize any records it sets.

Related

The speed limits that put an end to Koenigsegg’s previous record attempt were put in place after a crash during a race in March 2015 that killed a spectator. They restricted cars to 155 mph on certain sections of the track, but this turned out to only be a temporary measure. Track operator Capricorn made some safety modifications, including more barriers and new restrictions on where spectators can stand, and lifted the limits.

However, that means Koenigsegg essentially has to reset its record attempt. The company originally planned to set a record with the 1,341-horsepower One:1, but now all seven copies have been sold to customers. Koenigsegg says it will announce which car it will use at a later date, and is in the process of picking a driver too. Factory test driver Robert Serwanski will be on hand, but likely won’t make the record attempt.

The time Koenigsegg will have to beat is 6:57, set by the Porsche 918 Spyder in 2013. McLaren has claimed its P1 lapped the Nürburgring in under seven minutes as well, but has never released an actual time.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Stephen Edelstein
Stephen Edelstein
Contributing Editor
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Watch a Porsche Cayenne set a lap ‘record’ on an unfinished racetrack
2020 porsche cayenne turbo s e hybrid sets lap record at unfinished gotland ring

The Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid sets an unusual lap record

Porsche loves records, and why shouldn't it? The German automaker's cars are very good at setting them. But things may have gotten a bit out of hand this time. Porsche was so eager to set a lap record at Sweden's Gotland Ring with its new Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid that it didn't wait until the track was finished.

Read more
Hyundai is flying Veloster N owners to the Nürburgring to watch its cars race
Hyundai N Nürburgring

Imagine buying a car and getting to take a trip to one of the world's greatest racetracks on the automaker's dime. Hyundai is flying 300 owners and fans of its N performance vehicles to Germany's Nürburgring for the annual 24-hour race to cheer on its team, tour the circuit in a helicopter, and compete for the chance to drive a lap of the track.

Hyundai only has two N vehicles in its lineup at the moment: The i30 N and the Veloster N, and only the latter is sold in the United States. So it's important for the Korean automaker to cultivate a loyal fan base for N, which is still relatively new. Hyundai reached out directly to fans via Veloster N owner lists and social media channels. If you're still waiting on an invite, don't bother -- all slots have been filled. Maybe next year.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?
The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.

Read more