Volkswagen’s ID.R has not only set the lap record for an all-circle car, it has also set the most energy-efficient lap of all time on the Nordschleife. The 670 hp ID.R completed the 20.8-kilometre lap of the ‘Green Hell’ in a time of just 6:05.336 minutes, at an average speed of 204.96 km/h. The ID.R hit its top speed in the “Fuchsröhre” section, a dip at the end of a longer downhill section, of 273 km/h. It achieved that incredibly fast lap record using just 24.7 kWh of energy.

The ID.R is the forerunner and prototype for the ID.R family. Volkswagen will bring E-mobility to the streets for everyone starting in 2020. Technology used successfully during the record attempts with the ID.R will be incorporated in production vehicles.

During the record setting lap, race car driver Romain Dumas was subjected to centrifugal cornering forces equating to about three and a half times his own body weight. The on-board measuring instruments recorded up to 3.49 g. The most dramatic deceleration came when braking into the “Aremberg” corner, where the carbon-fibre brakes on the ID.R achieved a negative acceleration of 2.7 g.

“Two major differences between the ID.R and the sports car I drive in 24- hour races are the considerably higher cornering speeds and the shorter braking distances,” said Dumas.