As we’ve learned, pretty much anything that’s road-legal in Germany can bolt around the Nurburgring Nordschliefe track provided the fee is paid. It’s easily the automotive world’s favorite toll road. And there is something that is sickly satisfying about watching the most inappropriate vehicles take on the Green Hell with a talented driver behind the wheel. Sure, a Vespa scooter and a freaking coach bus are tops on the list, but we’d be willing to bet that the most popular “you drove that?!” vehicle on the ‘Ring has to be some form of Ford Transit van, and you can blame Top Gear and Sabine Schmitz for that. In 2004 Jeremy Clarkson and Schmitz were testing out a Jaguar on the track when Sabine popped off that she could beat Clarkson’s lap in a van. In 2005 Schmitz gave a Transit a through run on the ‘Ring and managed a 10:08 lap time, a very solid effort indeed. If you watch the footage, though, you can see her working at full capacity to keep the van’s momentum up without it crashing or rolling over.
These two guys decided to take a newer Transit out and see what they could get. And they are on point from the start as well. They have admitted that it has a mild tune on the engine, but is otherwise stock…and it’s got some stuff in the back, which will become apparent within the first couple of corners. It’s warped fun, but how close were they to the Ring Queen’s time? Click play below and see for yourself.
There was a Transit that could have lapped the ‘ring faster than that!
It was dirty white, with ladders strapped to the roof and a dash top full of rubbish.
Oh yes – and underneath was the running gear of a Jaguar XJ220!
Wild!
Remember the 1971 Supervan Transit?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg6WdboK1nY#t=115