Volkswagen ID R smashes electric Nürburgring lap record

VW’s ID R electric race car has set a new Nürburgring Nordschleife record, lapping the 12.9-mile circuit in 6 min 05.336 seconds.

It beat the previous best time, set by the Nio EP9 electric hypercar, by some 40 seconds. However, while that was a production-based machine, the ID R is a one-off competition car.

The ID R is no stranger to success, having claimed a similar record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed hillclimb and securing the overall record at Pikes Peak, both of which took place last year.

Frenchman Romain Dumas piloted the VW, beatimg the previous record set by Briton Peter Dumbreck in a NIO EP9 in 2017 by 40.564 seconds with an average speed of 206.96 km/h (128.59mph).

The 670hp emission-free ID R car is the racing flagship of the future fully electric ID family from Volkswagen.

“The Nordschleife of the Nürburgring is not only the world’s most demanding race track, it is also the ultimate test for production vehicles,” said Volkswagen’s Herbert Diess.

“The ID.R has mastered this challenge with great distinction and has completed the fastest emission-free lap of all time.”