Yahoo Autos Porsche, with a Modified 911 GT2 RS, Has Set a New Nurburgring Record
In September 2017, a stock Porsche 911 GT2 RS beat the production-car Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record held by Lamborghini's Huracán Performante by five seconds, taking the crown with a time of 6:47.3. Lamborghini fired back this past July when it brought the new Aventador SVJ to the 'Ring and set a blistering 6:44.97 lap.
Obviously, Porsche wouldn't let that stand, so the Germans partnered up with Manthey-Racing, a Porsche-backed team that competes in multiple racing series including the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring. Manthey upgraded the GT2 RS with a number of chassis and aerodynamic modifications and a setup designed specifically for the 'Ring, and then set out lapping the Nordschleife. With Porsche test driver Lars Kern (who set the original production GT2 RS time) at the wheel, the 911 achieved a time of 6:40.3-a new record for a street-legal car. Technically, this record doesn't take the crown for a production car, so the Aventador remains king. But the Manthey GT2 RS was more than four seconds quicker than the Lambo (not to mention seven seconds better than the stock GT2 RS), which is no small feat.
Don't think that this "street legal" business is all talk, either. The modifications Manthey made to the GT2 RS-which the firm is calling the GT2 RS MR-will actually be made available for sale in Europe. While Manthey hasn't detailed the exact modifications, we can see canards on the front bumper and a larger rear wing. The only difference between the record-setting RS MR and the one that will be offered to customers is the racing bucket seat; it made no difference when it came to the record, as the weight remained the same.
The standard GT2 RS is the most extreme variant of the two dozen 911 models currently on sale. Using the twin-turbo 3.8-liter engine from the 911 Turbo boosted to 700 horsepower, it's the most powerful production 911 ever. Unlike the Turbo models, though, the GT2 RS is rear-wheel drive. Helping to put all that power down are an extreme aero package and massive, sticky tires.
This new 'Ring record isn't the only lap record that was smashed by a GT2 RS this year. At our annual Lightning Lap track test at Virginia International Raceway, a standard GT2 RS with the Weissach package set our all-time record with a 2:37.8 lap. That's almost two seconds quicker than the next-fastest car, the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.
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