VW’s 660bhp ID R Is Chasing The Nurburgring EV Lap Record

Volkswagen will make an attempt on the Nurburgring’s EV lap record this summer, the company has confirmed.

Instead of shuffling the Pikes Peak record-breaking ID R electric prototype into retirement, it will be modified to suit the ‘greatly different’ challenge of the 12.9-mile circuit. The point, says Volkswagen, is to underline the future performance potential of electric cars built for the road. VW Motorsport Director, Sven Smeets, said:

“After the record on Pikes Peak, the fastest time for electric cars on the Nurburgring-Nordschleife is the next big challenge for the ID R. A lap record on the Nordschleife is a great accolade for any car, whether a race car or a production car.”

The time to beat is a seriously impressive 6:45.9, set by the Nio EP9 driven by Peter Dumbreck in 2017. The car’s average speed was almost 115mph. For context, a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ is just 0.9 seconds faster than the EP9 over the full lap, with the 911 GT2 RS 1.4 seconds slower - until it was modified. A Honda Civic Type R, the current FWD Nurburgring record holder, is almost a minute slower.

If any car can beat the EP9’s time, it’s the ID R. It weighs less than 1134kg including Romain Dumas, the incredibly talented wheel-twiddler who set the new Pikes Peak benchmark last year and became the first driver to complete the course in under eight minutes. He said of the attempt:

“The thought of driving the ID R on the Nordschleife is already enough to give me goosebumps. I know the track very well, but the ID R will be a completely different challenge, with its extreme acceleration and huge cornering speeds. I can hardly wait for the first tests. Breaking the existing electric record will certainly not be a stroll in the park.”

A date for the official attempt has yet to be confirmed, but in the meantime Volkswagen will prepare the ID R on various racetracks in order to fine-tune its spec and aerodynamics.