[words: Bill Cho, source: Porsche]
This has been a record breaking week for the extended Volkswagen family. Earlier, the Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak and former Audi driver, Romain Dumas, ran the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 7:57.15…beating the previous record by a full 16 seconds.
Now another record has fallen and also by another former Audi driver. This morning, Timo Bernhard and the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo lapped the Nurburgring in 5:19.55. This time smashes the previous record of 6:11.13 by 51.58 seconds. Wow.
That record by Stefan Bellof stood for over 35 years and was also made in a Porsche, the Rothmans Porsche 956 C, on May 28, 1983.
“This is a great moment for me and for the entire team – the 919 programme’s icing on the cake. The Evo was perfectly prepared and I have done my best on this lap,” said Timo. “Thanks to the aerodynamic downforce, at sections I never imagined you can stay on full throttle. I’m pretty familiar with the Nordschleife. But today I got to learn it in a new way.”
You can say that again.
Gosh!!!
5:19.55 mins @Timo_Bernhard @nuerburgring Nordschleife #919tribute pic.twitter.com/8EGv3NOxHr— Porsche LMP1 Team (@Porsche_Team) June 29, 2018
The Evo version is based on the 919 Hybrid race car
The Evo version of the Porsche 919 Hybrid is based on the car that took outright victory at the Le Mans 24-Hours and won the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Over the winter, it was freed from some restrictions hitherto determined by the regulations. Thus, its hybrid power train now develops a system output of 1160 hp. The Evo weighs only 849 kilograms and its modified (and now active) aerodynamics generate over 50 per cent more downforce compared to the WEC model. Top speed at the Nürburgring was 369.4 km/h (229.5 mph). – Porsche
Strap in and watch the cockpit video of this record smashing run. Enjoy!
