The Top Five Fastest Road Cars to Lap the Nürburgring

Stephen Fogel

October 23, 2024 at 3:08 AM·4 min read

A performance-oriented car’s lap time on the Nürburgring has gone from being a legitimate means of testing it under challenging road conditions to a way of conferring bragging rights and a marketing advantage on the sales floor. The top spots in the Nürburgring pecking order are constantly changing, as each manufacturer develops a new version of their highest performer and sends it out on the ‘Ring in an attempt to post a lap time that will place their car at the top of the list.

Maro Engel, driver, with Mercedes-AMG One<p>Mercedes-Benz</p> — Maro Engel, driver, with Mercedes-AMG One
Mercedes-Benz

Here are the current top five fastest road cars to lap the Nürburgring. To be included, every car must be road-legal at the time it sets its hot lap. No racing tires are allowed, as well as no special enhancements that are not available to the owners of such a car.

Mercedes-AMG One<p>Mercedes-Benz</p> — Mercedes-AMG One
Mercedes-Benz

1. Mercedes-AMG One - 6:29.09

The Mercedes-AMG One hypercar not only established a new Nürburgring lap record for production cars on September 23, 2024 - it is also the only car to break the 6:30 barrier while doing it.

The Mercedes-AMG One uses Formula One technology, with a 1.6-Liter V6 electrically-turbocharged hybrid engine that can rev to 11,000 rpm. Electric motors are located on both the engine and the electrically-driven front axle, providing fully variable all-wheel drive. Total system horsepower is 1,049.

Porsche 911 GT2 RS Manthey Racing<p>Porsche</p> — Porsche 911 GT2 RS Manthey Racing
Porsche

2. Porsche 911 GT2 RS Manthey - 6:43.30

A Porsche 911 GT2 RS equipped with the Manthey Performance Kit currently holds the number two spot on the Nürburgring lap record list, set in June 2021. The Manthey Kit can be purchased by Porsche owners through Porsche Centers.

The kit consists of improved aerodynamic elements like front spoiler flaps, carbon underbody, new rear spoiler, upgraded diffuser, and rear wheels fitted with aerodiscs. The 700-horsepower GT2 RS’ coilover suspension is optimized for track use, with multi-adjustable shocks. The PCCB ceramic brakes get special racing pads, while the special magnesium wheels are lighter than stock. An additional water tank aids spray-cooling of the engine’s intercoolers, allowing more time between refills.

Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series<p>Mercedes-Benz</p> — Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series
Mercedes-Benz

3. Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series - 6:43.616

The Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series is in third place in the Nürburgring lap time rankings, While it took the top spot back in 2020 when it set its record, it has recently been eclipsed by its high-tech sibling, the Mercedes-AMG One.

The AMG GT Black put down 720 horsepower from its 4.0-Liter twin-turbo V8, driving the rear wheels through a 7-speed DCT. Zero-to-60 mph comes up in 3.1 seconds, with a top speed of 202 mph.

Porsche 911 GT3 RS<p>Porsche</p> — Porsche 911 GT3 RS
Porsche

4. Porsche 911 GT3 RS - 6:44.84

Another Porsche track-focused car has joined the list, this one normally aspirated. The 518-horsepower 911 GT3 RS has come within a second and a half of its turbocharged GT2 RS sibling not with sheer power, but with improved aerodynamics and downforce.

This remarkable time was set in October 2022 by a 911 GT3 RS with the Weissach package, for which Porsche claims total downforce of 1,896 pounds (860 kg) at 177 mph (285 kph), triple that of a standard 911 GT3.

Lamborghini Aventador SVJ<p>Lamborghini</p> — Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Lamborghini

5. Lamborghini Aventador SVJ - 6:44.97

Keeping this from being an all-German affair is our fifth-place finisher, the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, which took the top production-car spot when it set its record time back in 2018, just before its unveiling at Monterey Car Week. A development of the SV (which set its own record of 6:59.73 in 2015), The “J” stands for Jota, which denotes a track-focused car in Lamborghinese.

The Aventador SVJ featured a combination of the ALA 2.0 active-aero system for improved downforce and handling, a reengineered all-wheel drive system, rear-wheel steering, a stiffer body, and retuned steering. The Aventador SVJ was powered by a 6.5-Liter, 770-horsepower V12 engine.

Car and Driver
2025 Audi RS6 Avant GT Starts at a Whopping $200,195
That's a more than $70,000 premium over the regular RS6 Avant Premium trim.
Autocar articles
Kia Xceed
Kia had lofty expectations for the Xceed, but this crossover didn’t capture buyers’ imaginations enough
THE DRIVE
The Guy Who Made ‘Ferrari’ Is Now Making Maserati and Bugatti Movies, Too
Italian movie producer Andrea Iervolino, who helped make the Ferrari movie starring Adam Driver and Lamborghini: The Man Behind The Legend with Frank Grillo, is working on not one but two more biopics about European sports car makers. The first will cover Maserati’s origin story and reportedly star screen legend Anthony Hopkins, while the other will be about Bugatti’s rise. “Having Anthony Hopkins on board is phenomenal,” Iervolino told Variety earlier this month.
Autoweek
2025 Toyota GR Corolla Photo Gallery
The GR Corolla TC race car will compete in the SRO TC America Series, which will take place at seven raceways in 2025.
Car and Driver
View Exterior Photos of the 2025 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid
2025 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid exterior photos.
The Auto Wire
Legal Loophole Blamed For Baltimore Carjackings
Baltimore, like far too many other US cities, is struggling with underage kids committing violent carjackings. We’ve known about this problem for some time, even though others have tried denying its existence, but now a new report claims these carjackings might be fueled by a “legal loophole.” Plumber tried unsuccessfully to save 80-year-old woman from fatal carjacking. We immediately thought of prosecutors cutting sweet deals with young offenders, something which has allowed kids as young as ei
The Auto Wire
Little Red Corvette Has Its Way At Burger King
Burger King famously has been telling customers to “have it your way” for a long time, but the driver of a C5 Corvette decided to take that a little too literally. The little red American sports car slammed into the side of a Burger King restaurant in Suffolk, Virginia, frightening patrons and staff inside. Police in California are finding Teslas are almost worthless as cop cars. It happened just before 4 pm on October 14, so we’re guessing the driver was older and that was an early supper time.
Backfire News
GM Moves Ahead With A Hybrid Military Truck
GM Defense has unveiled a new tactical military truck which features a hybrid diesel-electric powertrain for an innovative approach to modern warfare. The prototype was put on display during AUSA 2024 last week in an attempt to woo the United States Army into moving toward commitment on a production version. Learn more about the innovative Rook. As you can probably tell from the photos, the vehicle uses the Chevy Silverado 3500 HD ZR2 as a base. Under the hood is a 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel
Road & Track
The Theon R Is a 2200-LB Porsche 964 Making 500 Horsepower
The Theon R is the latest 4.0-liter-powered monster from an Oxfordshire shed. That's a lot of power for a carbon-bodied car weighing less than 2200 lbs.
Business Insider
Tesla delays its $16,000 Cybertruck range extender and lowers its specs
Tesla's Cybertruck range extender has been delayed to mid-2025 and is now expected to boost the vehicle's total range by fewer miles.
Autoweek
Video: Ford Mustang GTD Teases Its Nürburgring Run
The Ford Mustang GTD made a trip to the famed Nurburgring to lay down a lap. Check out the teaser for the upcoming documentary about the trip, here.
USA TODAY
Honda recalls more than 700,000 cars for fuel leak issue: See list of affected vehicles
Honda has recalled 720,810 cars for cracked pumps that can cause fuel leaks. This is the second major recall from Honda this month.
KLAS articles
I-15 lanes reopen after morning closure due to Las Vegas freeway shooting
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The southbound lanes of I-15 were completely closed Wednesday morning for more than two hours due to a police investigation into a shooting that caused major traffic delays for Las Vegas valley commuters. Las Vegas Metropolitan police said a man was shot in the area of southbound I-15 and Washington Avenue […]
GOBankingRates
6 Cars That Will Still Be Worth the Money in 5 Years
When you're spending your hard-earned money on a car, you want to be sure that it's money well spent. You want to know that your investment will hold its value over time. New models are released every...
The Independent
Martin Brundle calls for F1 rule change after Norris and Verstappen clash at US Grand Prix
The two F1 title contenders clashed at the end of the US Grand Prix in Austin on Sunday
Associated Press
A 2nd major recall for Honda in October, this time for pumps that can crack, leak fuel
Honda is recalling more than 700,000 vehicles because the high-pressure fuel pump may crack and leak fuel, which could increase the risk of a fire. It is the second major recall this month at Honda, after 1.7 million vehicles were found to have potential steering issues in early October. The recall includes the Accord and Accord Hybrid 2023-2024; the Civic and Civic Hybrid 2025 and the CR-V Hybrid 2023-2025.
Reuters
Stellantis to launch fleet of EVs fitted with Factorial solid-state batteries
Carmaker Stellantis will launch by 2026 a demonstration fleet of vehicles fitted with solid-state batteries from U.S. startup Factorial, the two companies said on Wednesday. Solid-state batteries are expected to reduce fire risk and allow for lighter, lower-cost cars that can travel further on a single charge. However, solid-state batteries are proving harder than expected for major automakers and battery making partners to develop at scale.
Green Bay Press-Gazette
What’s that dirt piling up along I-41 south of Scheuring Road near De Pere? We found out
If you've taken Interstate 41 south of De Pere recently, you might've noticed a couple mounds of dirt have cozied up to the edge of the interstate.
The Cool Down
General Motors exec gives exclusive inside look at legacy automaker's impressive EV lineup: 'It really opens the market to many more families'
"There's a huge benefit of never having to go to the gas station."
GOBankingRates
5 Common Car Maintenance Services To Avoid Wasting Your Money On
The computer-based complexities of modern vehicles are beyond the average driver's ability to understand -- and your mechanic knows it. They can easily convince you that you need to spend a ton of...