If you were to compile a list of street-legal cars capable of lapping Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife in under 7:15, it would be a short one indeed. At 7:14.89, you’d find the Donkervoort D8 RS, at 7:14.64 you’d have the Lexus LFA with the Nürburgring package and at 7:12.13 you’d find the Dodge Viper ACR. Faster than that are the race cars thinly disguised as street cars, like the Gumpert Apollo Sport and the Radical SR8s.
Make a list of hybrids capable of lapping the ‘Ring in under 7:15, and the list includes but a single car. Yesterday, Porsche revealed on its Facebook page that the 918 Spyder had lapped the Nordschleife course in an impressive 7:14, shaving eight seconds off its previous best lap time of 7:22.
According to Porsche’s Facebook page, the car was equipped with the optional “Weissach Package,” although we have no idea what that may include. It was running on street-legal tires, which means that it likely could have gone even faster on race rubber.
It’s pretty clear that the 918 will live up to the performance expectations set by Porsche, but it’s still not clear if the car will deliver the impressive fuel economy (up to 78 mpg) that the German manufacturer originally claimed. We’ll find out when the car hits the market next year.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
