VIDEOS: Porsche 918 Spyder breaks the ‘Ring record

They’ve done it! The Porsche 918 Spyder and its team of testers have broken the Nurburgring lap record for a road legal car with a time of 6 minutes and 57 seconds. That’s right, they’ve managed to dip under the magic seven-minute barrier, breaking the previous record (held by the Gumpert Apollo Sport) by 14 seconds, making them the new king of the ‘Ring.

“The radical hybridisation of the 918 Spyder from the very outset is what made this lap record possible,” said Dr. Frank Walliser, head of the 918 Spyder project. “The lap time on the Nordschleife is, and remains, the toughest measure of a super sports car. Posting a time of 6.57 minutes, we achieved a result of which everyone in the development team – and at Porsche as a whole – is rightly proud of.”

Porsche has released two videos of the landmark achievement. The one above is a shorter, more stylised clip that includes on-track action shots and victory celebrations that ensued, while the one below is a simple on-board footage of the full record-breaking lap. Take a look, and enjoy watching history in the making.

The 887 hp plug-in hybrid hyper car’s fastest time was set by Porsche factory race driver Marc Lieb on his first attempt lapping the 20.6 km-long track at an average speed of over 179.5 km/h. Lieb, along with rally legend Walter Röhrl and Porsche test driver Timo Kluck drove two 918 Spyders present, and all three posted lap times of under seven minutes.

Both cars on duty were fitted with the optional Weissach package, but are otherwise stock standard, down to the factory fit Michelin tyres. If you’re wondering, ‘Weissach’ is pronounced as ‘vice-ach,’ and not at all like the self-flagellation term you’re thinking of. And even if it does sound like it, this record proves that it clearly doesn’t.

You now have your target, McLaren P1 and Ferrari LaFerrari. Game on, and may the odds be ever in your favour!

The post VIDEOS: Porsche 918 Spyder breaks the ‘Ring record appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Related posts:

1. Porsche 918 Spyder in full production trim unveiled


2. Porsche 918 Spyder makes Goodwood appearance


3. VIDEO: Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak record run


4. Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak sets new record!


5. 2014 Porsche LMP1 sports prototype race car unveiled


6. Porsche 918 Spyder: 887 hp, 1,275 Nm, 340 km/h!


7. New 918 to out-corner LaFerrari and P1, says Porsche


8. VIDEO: See the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Car Edition achieve 408.84 km/h


9. Porsche Panamera – the facelift breaks cover


10. Toyota Motorsport breaks own EV lap record at the Nürburgring – EV P002 achieves 7 mins 22.329 secs

via Paul Tan's Automotive News http://paultan.org/2013/09/12/videos-porsche-918-spyder-breaks-ring-record/