As things stand, there seems to be only one car capable of beating the Mercedes-AMG One’s lap record at the Nürburgring. Yes, it’s another AMG One. The previous record, set on October 28, 2022, by Mercedes AMG brand ambassador Maro Engel, has been replaced. That’s because he managed to shave off several seconds from the time.
On September 23, 2024, the DTM driver finished the lap in 6 minutes and 29.09 seconds. That’s quite a leap from the previous record of 6 minutes and 35.18 seconds. For transparency, we’re referring to the extended 12.92-mile (20.83km) setting of the Green Hell. The AMG One is now the first street-legal production car to break the 6:30 barrier.
Mercedes doesn’t mention the lap time for the shorter 12.8-mile (20.6-kilometer) track, but the 2022 hot lap was clocked at 6 minutes and 30.7 seconds. So, why did the three-pointed star have another go? Because there was room for improvement. The previous attempt saw some damp sections on the demanding circuit.
AMG shattered its own record on Maro Engel’s third timed lap, this time on a dry Nordschleife, with 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) on the asphalt and 59 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius) in the air. These conditions were perfect for beating the already impressive performance from nearly two years ago. The AMG One finished the lap at 6:56 PM.
We can’t think of many cars that could challenge the AMG One’s lap record. The Aston Martin Valkyrie is one, and perhaps the upcoming McLaren W1. We’d also include the LaFerrari successor as a possible contender. We’re excluding the Red Bull RB17 since it’s a track-only car. The same goes for the Lotus Evija X, even with its 6:24 lap time.
Maybe the wave of electric hypercars could rise to the occasion, but given the Nürburgring’s length, we’re not holding our breath. Perhaps Rimac’s new Nevera R could prove us wrong. Porsche hinted the Mission X could conquer the ‘Ring, but a production version is still to be confirmed.
It’s difficult to imagine a car surpassing the overall record set by the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo in 2018, when racing driver Timo Bernhard completed the lap in a staggering 5 minutes and 19.5 seconds. An honorable mention goes to the electric Volkswagen ID.R, piloted by Romain Dumas, who set a 6:05 lap in 2019.
Source and Images: Motor1