Back in 1983 Stefan Bellof ripped his Formula C Porsche 956 around the Nurburgring Nordschleife in a time of 6:11.13 and until a couple of days ago, it was the quickest anyone had ever gone around the joint. Through 35 years of advancements in race cars, street cars, engines, transmissions, suspension systems, and driver competence, the number stuck. It stuck hard. There were actually people talking about the fact that the absolute track record may NEVER be broken. Anyone who knows even the slightest thing about racing understands the use of the word never is about as dumb as the use of the word why. Porsche once again proved this point by sending its hulking version of the 919 out onto the course with Timo Bernard behind the wheel. The record was promptly annihilated by a minute. Vaporized.
It is fun and funny that on the same day we have one of the most basic and straightforward feature cars we have ever shown that we also have video featuring one of the most incredibly advanced achievements in automotive engineering humankind has ever seen. The 919 won LeMans three times in a row and it was kind of retired as a race car…and turned into the ultimate four wheeled contraption that’s basically every turned a wheel on any race track ever. With no more rule books to follow, the engineers enhanced ever aspect of the car. It makes like 700hp from the piston engine augmented by another 400 or so coming from the electric side of things. The suspension was altered to it’s absolute optimum configuration rather than something inhibited by race regulations. The body was changed to add downforce in the corners and reduce drag in the straights. This son of a bitch ran around Spa quicker than an F1 car recently and it’s not stopping at The ‘Ring.
Porsche has this monster on a farewell tour and effectively they are looking to bomb track records at every stop, including an attempt to make sub one minute lap of Laguna Seca a feat as yet unaccomplished. Never say never, kids. Especially when the engineers are given freedom and budget.
Hot damn! Watch the video.
Holy mother of God!! Made my heart race just watching the video!
too old now to be that fast but would have loved to ride shotgun on that lap
Amazing feat but dull as dishwater, i’d take Bellof’s fire breathing 1982 Group C 956 over the 919 any day!