Jalopnik: nordschliefe

Gumpert Apollo Sport Sets Nürburgring Production Lap Record

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:40:00 EDT

The truly mean Gumpert Apollo Sport has powered its way to a Nürburgring lap time of 7:11.57, simultaneously setting the fastest lap for a production road-legal car and embarrassing the competition.

This number is an eleven-second improvement over the the Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR and Corvette ZR1 times, and a full 15 seconds over the Nissan GT-R VSpec time.

This feat was accomplished with the help of the Gumpert's 700 HP Audi turbo V8 and one skilled driver (26-year-old Florian Gruber) last week. The Apollo Sport hasn't officially been released, but with a lap time like this and a top speed of 224 MPH we imagine they won't have a hard time finding buyers. (Hat tip to YellowDucati for the tip!)

Update: Technically, the Hayabusa-powered Radical SR8 is the fastest production, road-legal car with a time of 6:48. However, the car is truly on the radical end of what you'd consider road-going.

[Sport Auto via World Car Fans]

Aston Martin Opens Nurburgring Test Center, Trackside VIP Lounge Coming Soon

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:20:00 EDT

Aston Martin has completed their on-site Nürburgring test facility, with an owners lounge to be following shortly. We're immediately more envious of Aston Martin owners — imagine the owner events held at the world's greatest test track. With Aston Martins. At the Nordschleife. As tempting the thought of a dedicated, exclusive, sports car owners hang-out is, the center will be used primarily during testing of new models like the Aston Martin Rapide, but a car geek can dream, right? [eGMCarTech]

Nissan X-Trail Fuel Cell Jumps Nurburgring Shark

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:20:00 EDT

There is no good reason at all for Nissan to take their fuel-cell-powered X-Trail to the Nordschleife, but that's what they've gone and done. An 11-minute, 58-second lap time and putting a fuel cell-powered SUV on the 'Ring are both patently ridiculous. Enough. Nissan, it was great when you blasted round the 'Ring with the GT-R, but now you've just Fonzied yourselves. [EdmundsInsideLine]