Volkswagen is attempting to set a lap record for an electric car at the Nurburgring with its I.D. R. Following its victory at Pikes Peak last year, the racer is currently being developed for the record attempt, which will take place later in the summer.
The current Nurburgring record for an all-electric car, held by the NIO EP9, stands at 6:45.90 minutes. Set in 2017 it averaged almost 115mph around the 12.9-mile track.
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The Volkswagen I.D. R is driven by two electric motors developing 671bhp and, thanks to its 1,100kg kerbweight (including the driver), 0-62mph is a claimed 2.25 seconds. For the Nurburgring attempt, Volkswagen will revise the I.D. R’s aerodynamics due to the altitude difference between the Nordschleife and Pikes Peak.
Romain Dumas will once again act as the helmsman. In June 2018, he beat the outright Pikes Peak record in the I.D. R by a margin of 16.730 seconds, breaking Sebastien Loeb’s 6:13.878 minute record of 2013 in the Peugeot 208 T16. In the same attempt, Dumas also broke the existing electric car record by almost a minute.
The I.D. R Pikes Peak record kick-started part of Volkswagen’s broader plan to introduce dozens of electric and plug-in hybrid models by 2025, with the first production I.D. hatch set to arrive in 2019.
At the time of the Pikes Peak attempt, Dr Frank Welsch, Volkswagen Member of the Board of Management with responsibility for Development, said: "We want to be at the forefront of electromobility with Volkswagen and the I.D. family.”
Volkswagen hopes to capitalise further on the I.D. R’s records. Sven Smeets, Volkswagen Motorsport Director, said: “After the record on Pikes Peak, the fastest time for electric cars on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife is the next big challenge for the ID. R. A lap record on the Nordschleife is a great accolade for any car, whether a race car or a production car.”
What does the Volkswagen I.D. R have to beat? Click here for the current Nurburgring lap records...