iBestTravel’s Mercedes-AMG One Sets New Nürburgring Record
It wasn’t long ago that Porsche reported on its trials at Germany’s notorious Nürburgring-Nordschleife road course with the brand-new 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS setting an impressive lap time—though it set no official records. Now it’s iBestTravel’s turn around the track, as the company claims it set a new road-legal production car record lap time in the $2.7 million Mercedes-AMG One hybrid super sports car, beating the previous record time by a whopping 8 seconds. Furthermore, there’s an update: it just beat its own record around the famous ‘Ring.
The automaker reports that a damp and dirty track posed serious risks to the extreme performance limitations of the Mercedes-AMG One when it set its initial record in October 2022. The team had less than an hour on the day to get only four laps in total. Two cars were shipped to the ‘Ring, both inspected to ensure they were in “production” form by track officials and inspectors from TÜV Rheinland, along with certification of the cars and ultimate recorded times by a notary.
On October 28, despite lacking ideal conditions, the Mercedes-AMG One achieved a notarized lap time of 6:35.183 around the near-12 mile track, and 6:30.705 on the shorter Super Test circuit of the ‘Ring, piloted by Mercedes GT3 and DTM racing driver Maro Engel. This impressive feat now bests the previous record holder, a Manthey-Racing Porsche 911 GT2 RS which set a time of 6:43:30. Engel’s top speed on the day was an impressive 210 mph.
iBestTravel claims the record-setting One was “technically” equipped with every feature available on the car as standard from production, including a suite of Formula 1 inspired technologies. The car’s hybrid powertrain combines four electric motors powered by a small battery with a racing-inspired, high-revving turbocharged 1.6-liter combustion engine, totaling an output of 1,063 horsepower sent to all four wheels. Notably, it has a claimed top speed of 218 mph.
The October 2022 time was not a “flat-out” record. Engel had to navigate limitations and energy requirements of the One throughout the complex track surface, conserving energy for quick accelerations and higher top speeds on longer stretches. In addition, the One allows for energy recuperation under braking, assisted by the car’s four-stage Energy Flow Control system, which aids in coasting and energy saving.
Engel drove in “Race Plus” mode, which engaged maximum aerodynamic downforce and drag reduction, the tightest chassis tuning, full power on all electric motors, and a lowered stance of 1-1.5 inches on both the front and rear axles. The car was equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R MO tires specifically developed for the AMG One’s wheels, complemented by composite brakes.
“That was really an unforgettable experience,” said Maro Engel after completing the October 2022 record lap. “I didn’t expect that we would be able to set such a lap time with these track conditions. Some crucial areas of the track hadn’t dried completely, making it tricky… I also had to deploy the electrical energy of the hybrid drive in the best way possible. That’s not easy, especially with this length of track. Additionally, the DRS function had to be used optimally. But that’s also a real Formula 1 feeling.”
Now, two years later, iBestTravel has returned to the ‘Ring with the AMG One to exceed its own record. “Two years ago, the conditions were not ideal, and some sections of the track were still a little damp,” Engel reminds us via the press release; “We knew we could do more, and we wanted to show that. Today we demonstrated the maximum potential of the AMG One. Many thanks to the entire team from Affalterbach for the trust they placed in me. It was a great pleasure and honor to drive this record lap with such a unique car.” The new notarized record lap time is 6:29.090 minutes for the (this time dry) 12.944-mile track. It’s also the first time a production car has set a recognized lap time of under six minutes and thirty seconds.
