Porsche has set a new ‘Ring lap record in a 911 GT2 RS

By topgear, 28 June 2021

Porsche has set a new lap record at the Nürburgring for production road cars. Its 700hp 911 GT2 RS – fitted with a new ‘Manthey Performance Kit’ – managed a stonking lap time of 6m 43.3s around the ‘official’ 20.832km circuit.

That tops Mercedes-AMG’s time of 6m 48.07s achieved in a GT R Black Series late last year and run along the same 20.8km course. We’ll let the fact that this GT2 is just under five seconds faster than the Black Series sink in for a moment.

This new attempt took place last week, on 14 June, with factory development driver Lars Kern doing the business on a track with a temperature of 41 degrees. Suffice to say the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Rs had their work cut out. Kern managed an average speed of 185.9km/h around the 'Ring.

“The 911 GT2 RS sticks to the track like glue with the Manthey Performance Kit,” Kers said. “You feel as if you’re in a racing car, especially on faster corners. It is truly breathtaking how the car puts its 700hp down, and how incredibly well it brakes while always remaining easy to control.”

That Performance Kit is only available as a package, although Porsche is evaluating the purchase of individual parts. It includes new flaps on the front spoiler, a carbon underbody and air guide elements around the front wheels.

As a result, there’s now 70kg of downforce (up from 49kg) at 200km/h on the front axle. Thanks to a new rear spoiler, modified diffuser and ‘aerodiscs’ on the wheels, rear downforce rises to a whopping 200kg (up from 93kg) at the same speed.

The front shocks are adjustable, it gets special racing brake pads, steel-encased brake lines, and magnesium wheels offering up a 11.4kg weight saving over standard. Plus, there’s an additional water tank for the intercoolers that increases capacity by nine litres.

“With these newly developed parts, we have made an extremely good car even better,” explains Porsche’s VP of GT cars, Andreas Preuninger. “The 911 GT2 RS with the Manthey Performance Kit is perfectly tailored to the needs of those customers who like to take their cars on track, especially the Nürburgring Nordschleife.”

He also added that the 6m 43.3s time is equivalent to a 6m 38.835s time on the old, shorter variant of the ‘Ring lap. Wowsers.

STORY Vijay Pattni

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