The Volkswagen ID.R prototype will try to break the fastest lap record for an electric car at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife Circuit. Sources at the German firm have confirmed the challenge will take place next summer.

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“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.”, declared Volkswagen Motorsport director, Sven Smeets. “A lap record on the Nordschleife is a great accolade for any car, whether a race car or a production car.” 

Dumas and the Volkswagen ID. R: An invincible duo

The Volkswagen ID.R, with French driver Romain Dumas at the wheel,  already destroyed the standing record at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in June 2018. The French driver will also drive the grey car in this new adventure.

At the ‘Race to the clouds’ in Colorado, Dumas became the first driver to do the famous hill climb in under 8 minutes in more than a hundred years. He clocked in 7: 57.148 minutes, to be precise, seeing the first checkered flag.

The French driver has also won the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring four times, an the 24 Hours of Le Mans a couple of times, which makes him the perfect candidate for the challenge. 

“The thought of driving the ID. R on the Nordschleife is already enough to give me goosebumps.” – Dumas has declared – “I know the track very well, but the ID.R will be a completely different challenge, with its extreme acceleration and huge cornering speeds.”  “I can hardly wait for the first tests. Breaking the existing electric record will certainly not be a stroll in the park” , he added.

He is quite right to not underestimate the challenge. The current fastest lap record for an electric car at the Nürburgring belongs to Peter Dumbreck since 2017. The Briton did a full lap in 6:45.90 minutes on board an EP9 NIO, averaging a speed 185 km/h! 

Changes to the Volkswagen ID. R

The Volkswagen ID.R has undergone a series of changes to make it more suited to the twisted monster that is the Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit, with its 20,832 kilometres and 75 bends.

The Wolkesburg rocket also underwent some due changes after the Pikes Pike Mountain Climb. Both routes are, in any case, significantly different. 

The American climb starts at 2,862 meters of altitude and ends at 4,302,  while the German racetrack lays at between 320 and 617 meters above sea level.

The German engineers have tried to adapt the Volkswagen ID.R to the peculiarities of the circuit which includes a very long straight.

In this respect, François-Xavier Demaison, Technical Director of Volkswagen Motorsport, has stated that some of the key changes will be made to the vehicle’s aerodynamic package.

The Volkswagen ID.R, which weighs less than 1.100 kg, will have two electric engines, capable of generating 500 kilowatts, about 680 hp.

The brand is also planning an intensive program of testing and development, to be held over the spring previous to the challenge in various circuits around the world. 

The Volkswagen ID.R Images: Volkswagen Motorsport.