The really crazy part is that the track conditions sucked. Not only was the tarmac damp in many spots, there was dirt on the track in spots like Kesselchen, and Mercedes-AMG claims in a press release that the session was shortened due to weather delays. Apparently, by the time the track had somewhat dried out, Mercedes-AMG only had time for four fast laps. These aren’t the ideal conditions you’d want to set a lap record in, yet here we are. From Mercedes’ press release:
Mercedes-AMG brought two ONEs to the Ring, which meant that the limited time could be used effectively. According to the specifications of Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG, both vehicles were inspected and documented by TÜV Rheinland to ensure that they were in series production. A notary confirmed the proper condition of the vehicles and the correct execution of the record runs. For context, the next-quickest street-legal production car around the Nordschleife is the 991.2 Porsche 911 GT2 RS with the factory-approved Manthey Racing package. It ran a 6:43.3 under much better conditions than the Mercedes-AMG One lap, and is seriously impressive for something that isn’t a hypercar. Beyond that, the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series clocked a 6:43.616, while the current Porsche 911 GT3 RS managed a 6:48.047. To help achieve this time, Mercedes-AMG dropped the one into Race Plus mode, which drops the suspension by 30 mm up front and 37 mm out back, sets each motor to full attack mode, and alters the active aerodynamics. In addition, driver Maro Engel made good use of the One’s DRS system, which drops the upper rear wing element and retracts flaps in the fenders to cut drag.
While the record seems all well and good, I have to take a little umbrage with the press release. In giant header font, Mercedes-AMG proclaims to be the “First car manufacturer with a hypercar on the ring.” Ah. How do you define what a hypercar is? One could argue that although not road-legal, the Pagani Zonda R is a hypercar and it set a blistering 6:47.50 time back in 2010, handily the quickest track-only production car on the board at the time. [Editor’s Note: It’s possible that there’s an official definition for the Nürburgring “super sports car” category (as Mercedes calls it in the press release) that we aren’t aware of. -DT] If we go by the fine print, the press release states that “Mercedes-AMG is the first car manufacturer to have ventured onto the Nürburgring Nordschleife with such a hypercar and set official records there.” Hmm. One could say the Porsche 918 Spyder is a hypercar that was the quickest production car around the Nordschleife in 2013 (two Radical cars were faster, but since they only met UK Single Vehicle Approval, they weren’t street legal). It seems Mercedes may be fluffing up a lap record, which the company doesn’t need to do given the genuinely appalling conditions at the track. It’s an impressive time! (But we get it; if it’s not a record, it won’t make the news).
The big question now is how much faster can the Mercedes-AMG One go under ideal conditions? Dry track, no debris, cool air, tarmac warm enough for grip. Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if a time of 6:30 or less is achievable. Five seconds is a lot of time to shave off, but over a 12.944-mile (20.832 km) track, it may very well be possible. If achieved, expect average lap speed to be around 2 mph higher. So, well done to Mercedes-AMG. I look forward to other hypercar marques taking up the gauntlet and laying down times of their own. Perhaps Rimac can snag the electric production car lap record, or Aston Martin can have a go in the Valkyrie. Perhaps another fresh hypercar on the ring is exactly the excuse Mercedes-AMG needs to go out again in the One and smash that 6:35.183 time. All photos courtesy of Mercedes-AMG I get it that a lot of this crew will be bitching about this that or the other from the video, but we should all be applauding manufacturers that are still out there trying to make something this fast. Kudos to Merc for the car, I hope we see more like it in the future. Things like this make it just a tad brighter. Finally, man does that thing sound terrible. 11,000rpm? Sounds like maybe 6k. This car is a technical marvel, but just imagine what they could have done if they’d just thrown in a more standard 1000hp+ engine instead of spending all of that time and money to adapt an F1 engine into a road car. On the plus side, at least the owner won’t have to pay much displacement tax when driving through London. https://youtu.be/Qrs0oa-XIV4 The V6 in the Jaaaaaaag F Type sounds sweet too. If they say it enough then it must be true, like how they built the first automobile… But really, it sounds like an impressive feat given how the track sounded.
