Piloting a Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo concept sport car, professional racing driver Timo Bernhard has managed to set a new absolute best time of 5:19.5 on the North Loop of the Nürburgring Circuit in Germany.
The previous record of 6:11.13 was set in 1983 by Stefan Bellof piloting a Porsche 956C. The new time is almost a full minute ahead – but it is hardly going to remain in place for another 35 years.
The Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo is based on the Porsche 919 Hybrid prototype racecar which, in turn, participated in the 24 Hours Le Mans. The Evo variant has been stripped of all limitations imposed by the LMP1 racing regulations and powered up from 500 to 720 horsepower (from 373 to 537 kW).
The car has also received 50% more downforce, better ERS for power recuperation, and a revised body kit including new side skirts, a rear wing, and a front diffusor, some of these adjustable.
The engineers have reduced the weight of the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo by almost 40 kg (88 lb) by removing the entire lighting set, the windshield wipers, and all the sensors that weren’t necessary for a single North Loop run.
Photo: motor1.com