The Seat Leon ST Cupra Just Lapped The Nurburgring Quicker Than A B7 RS4

When we were given the chance to belt the Seat Leon ST Cupra around a track, we were shocked at just how capable the load-lugging version of one of our favourite hot hatches really was. We were also given a few hot laps with Seat’s bonkers test driver Jordi Gene, who told us he was confident he could actually complete a Nurburgring lap quicker in the estate than in the hatch. Turns out he was right.

With a lap time of 7m 58s dead, it’s 0.4sec quicker than the plucky hatchback. Furthermore, that makes it more than 10 seconds quicker than the previous generation Audi RS4, which has 414bhp compared to the Leon’s 276bhp.

How did Gene overcome such a defecit? He explained to Top Gear:

“In high speed corners the ST rear axle is more progressive, and the top speed is higher with the better drag coefficient. What we lose exiting some corners we get it back in high-speed turns and on the straights.

“With the longer body here we can play with the rear end, to help position the car. It is a very nice racing feeling when you disconnect the ESC.”

We’ve been extolling the vitrues of wagons for ages, and now we have a racing driver proving a fast load lugger doesn’t just look cool, it performs better than a hatchback, too. Going forward, all cars should be estates. They’re just better…