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VIDEO: Pagani Zonda R - Nürburgring record lap (6:47.50)

Pagani have just published a YouTube clip showing the Zonda R “record” lap of the Nürburgring. It’s a great lap to watch, too. The car is just so stable, there is no discernable body roll and the way the Zonda R gathers speed is mind blowing. But for a couple of missed gears, most notably on the climb out of Ex-Mühle, a 6:46 time may have been possible. Pagani’s text from the YouTube description field reads:

Assuring new technologies and materials are fit for production means also putting the vehicle’s components under severe stresses, exceeding those normally encountered in every day road driving.

The Nürburgring Nordschleife is the most demanding track in the world, for man and machine, an ordeal that each Pagani has to pass, only one of many in the entire development phase.

The Zonda R serves as the ultimate test bench, a car able to reach acceleration figures and speeds that are not possible with a road car.

This is further undermined by a laptime of 6:47,5 min for the 20,832 km Nordschleife.

So, the Zonda R has bettered the previous best time set by the Radical SR8LM; by less than a second. We’re now edging closer to the holy grail of Ring lap times—Stefan Bellof’s 1983 benchmark of 6 minutes 11 seconds. There’s still some way to go, I just wonder when it will be beaten. And by what!

Check out the full Zonda R lap below.

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The power of M

A few days ago BMW celebrated the 25th anniversary of the mighty M3. They did so with a press release and a gallery of photos. Perhaps this video of a race -prepped E30 M3 lapping the Ring in under 7 minutes 40 seconds might have been a more fitting tribute.

[Thanks to Chris for the tip]

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Designed to win

Format67 bring us this remarkable short film. It features a Honda NSX moving through the streets of Frankfurt en route to its ultimate destination—the ultimate destination—the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

The credits at the end of the film say it was inspired by Ayrton Senna. Throughout the clip the following quotes from Senna are featured:

“The main thing is to be yourself. Many times its through a mistake that you learn. And the main thing is to make sure you learn through your mistakes and get better.

You should know, that, by being a racing driver you are at the risk all the time. And if you no longer go for a gap that exists, you’re no longer a racing driver. Because we are competing, we are competing to win. And the main motivation, to all of us, is to compete for victory. It’s not to come third, fourth, fifth or sixth. I race to win, as long as I feel it’s possible.

Designed to win. And as long as I can live by it. Some people agree, some don’t. I can only do what speaks for my mind.”

It is brilliant. Check it out after the break.

[Source: Format67]

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Dates announced for 2011 Nürburgring 24 hour race

Dates for the 39th running of the Nürburgring 24 hour race have just come through. The race will be held over the following weekend: 23–26 June 2011.

[Thanks to Obi for the tip]

The Toaster - A personal account of the 24 hour race

Kiwi Wayne Moore is a long time supporter of AUSringers and, more importantly, a long time racer at the Ring. This year marked Wayne’s 17th consecutive appearance. Making the pilgrimage to the Eifel mountains each year from New Zealand takes desire, dedication and a love of repetition. Read on to find out why.

The Toaster
By Wayne Moore

Have you ever been to the same place many times, maybe year after year, and got into a bit of a pattern? It happens with beach houses and time shares. Sure, things change when the kids transition from playing on the swings to playing behind the hedge; but much of what we do is often repetitive. We barbeque fish with the same neighbours. Drink the same beer. Get up at the same time each day. Wash clothes on days ending in ‘y’.

I’ve had the privilege to drive in the 24 hour race at the legendary Nürburgring every year since 1994 and for sixteen of those years I’ve joined the same team. That’s a bit of a pattern. Sure the race has changed. The field has grown from 120 cars to wait lists above 250. The crowds have grown from 70,000 last century to 235,000 on race day 2009. Nürburgring has grown with the injection of hundreds of millions of euro to create new play grounds for fans. But the pattern remains the same.

On Monday of race week the transporter arrives with one or two early bird team members including team chief and driver Eberhard Rattunde. We visit the Welcome Centre in exchange for a huge bag of decals and entry passes. The truck joins hundreds of others in parc ferme for the night.

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Lure of the Ring - A new 24 hour race documentary

The team that brought us Mal’s big green hell was back at the Nürburgring 24 hour race this year and after the jump you can watch a teaser of what we can expect from their next doco. As you would expect the film will feature most of the Aussies who took part in the 2010 race.

Footage was captured from five different teams, including the Rimmer Motorsport Subaru of evergreen Ring racer Mal Rose; who can be seen above it is his teammate Peter Venn shown above gesticulating to a slower car. Other drivers included are Martin Bailey, Keen Booker, Stephen Borness, Richard Gartner, Rob Rubis, Ric Shaw, Paul Stubber and Ray Stubber.

Interestingly, most of those drivers got their first taste of the Ring at the wheel of Mal Rose’s Mirage Cup cars, which last appeared at the Ring in 2008.

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Zonda R for Ring record

News has come through from evo that the Zonda R has claimed a new Nürburgring Nordschleife lap “record”. A bit like the sub-7 minute time posted by the Ferrari 599XX, though, it’s hard to know where to pigeon hole the Zonda R as it’s not a road legal car. Maybe just stick it in the bleeding fast category then, because its reported time of 6 minutes 47 seconds is bloody quick.

Quicker than the Ferrari (6:58), of course, but also quicker than the Radical SR8LM (6:48). Marc Basseng, the man at the wheel of the Zonda R, reckons there is more time to be found, as well.

Video of the lap will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

[Source: evo | Pic: frozenspeed]

Behind the scenes with Subaru at the Ring

Following the earlier news about the Subaru Impreza WRX STI here is a behind the scenes look at Subaru’s time at the Nürburgring. The clip runs for just under four minutes and gives a bit more insight into the STI sedan setting a new Nürburgring record for a four-door car.

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Subaru Impreza WRX STI sets four door Ring record

Subaru Australia brings us news that Tommi Mäkinen has driven an MY11 Impreza WRX STI sedan around the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7 minutes 55 seconds. Which is a new (unofficial) lap record for a four door car, beating the previous best time of the Cadillac CTS-V by four seconds.

Speaking after the lap Mäkinen said, “The car was controllable with precise and faithful handling even on tricky corners. I could easily predict the car’s behaviour. That is exactly what Subaru is offering: confidence.”

Interestingly, the same car was seen at the Ring a few days before the record was set (16 April 2010) by Dale from Bridge to Gantry.

A couple of extra pics can be seen after the jump, along with the all important video. Slightly better quality footage is available direct from the Subaru Global website as well.

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24 hours in 19500 frames

Filmmakers Tim and Nick Hahne from Stereoscreen have provided race fans with a real treat. Their short film 24 hours in 19500 frames captures the essence of this year’s Nürburgring 24 hour race and condenses it into 13 minutes of total brilliance. Click on the image above to load the film’s website and get ready for a visual feast.