With Assetto Fiorano Track Package, Ferrari 296 GTB Circles Nürburgring Nordschleife in 6:58

• German car magazine editor takes Ferrari 296 GTB to a sub-7:00 minute lap time around the famed Green Hell, Germany's Nürburgring Nordschleife.

• The 296 was stock, with the optional Assetto Fiorano package.

• It rode on street-legal Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires.

Automotive journalist Christian Gebhardt of Germany’s Sport Auto lapped the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife in 6:58.70 in a Ferrari 296 GTB.

In an article and video posted today about a lap driven on April 19, Gebhradt describes his trip around the almost-13-mile track late in the day, starting at 6:36 pm local time and finishing less than seven minutes later. Air temperature was a cool 54 degrees Fahrenheit and the track surface temperature was 66 degrees Fahrenheit.

The 296 was equipped with the optional “Assetto Fiorano” package, a set of track-ready components that reduce weight, increase aerodynamic grip, and reduce drag. The car rode on street-legal Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires.

Gebhardt’s time beats the now-second-fastest Ferrari the magazine has taken to the Nordschleife by just 1.3 seconds. A 488 GTB turned a 7:00.03 in 2019.

If you’re watching the video, the actual run starts at about 1:45. Buckle up.

What car do you want to see set a lap time at the Nürburgring? Please share your thoughts below.