THE ROAD AMERICA PRODUCTION CAR TRACK RECORD BELONGS TO PORSCHE, AGAIN, WITH A 911 GT3 RS
Porsche has once again raised the bar in the realm of production car track records at the Wisoncin-based Road America track, often referred to as the North American Nordschleife. The impressive Type-992 Porsche 911 GT3 RS has managed to surpass the previous record held by the more powerful 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS. The record-breaking lap was achieved by Dimitri Dimakos, a seasoned veteran of the Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America, on the recently resurfaced "Nürburgring Nordschleife of North America." During the monumental event, Dimakos navigated the 4-mile, 14-turn road course with perfection to set the new record lap time of an astounding two minutes and 13.8 seconds. The near-perfect conditions, with the air temperature hovering at a comfortable 24 degrees and the track temperature just above 32 degrees Celcius, contributed to the success of this achievement. Notably, this lap on the freshly paved classic American race course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, outperformed the previous record of 2 minutes and 15.1 seconds, set by David Donohue in a 2019 Porsche 911 GT2 RS back in April 2019, by nearly two seconds. This is particularly remarkable considering the significant horsepower difference between the prior record holder, which boasted 700 hp, and the current car with 518 hp. To optimize the car's performance, it was meticulously prepared for the track by an authorized Porsche Center, and it was equipped with optional, road-legal Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R N0 high-performance road tires in size 275/35 ZR 20 at the front and massive 335/30 ZR 21 tires at the rear. These tires, specially developed and homologated for the 911 GT3 RS, played a vital role in enhancing the car's grip and overall performance.
Dimakos expressed his admiration for the vehicle's performance, emphasizing that it's not just about the lap time; it's the ease with which the car achieves that time and the confidence it instils in the driver. He highlighted that even drivers at a novice or intermediate level can handle the car effectively while maintaining impressive speed and comfort. The car's braking capabilities, akin to the 911 GT3 Cup car, further contributed to its remarkable performance, offering stability and precision during the intense drive. Beyond the driver's skill, the success can also be attributed to the sophisticated active aerodynamics and the inclusion of a new Motorsport-based 4.0-litre, naturally aspirated, flat 6 engine in the current generation 911 GT3 RS. These elements collectively contributed to the car being over 4.5 seconds faster than the 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS on the same track. Notably, this exceptional achievement was accomplished with a privately owned production-spec road car, freshly delivered to its owner just weeks before the event. The official lap time was meticulously recorded by onboard VBOX equipment and later validated by Goldcrest Motorsports, ensuring the utmost accuracy and credibility of the record-breaking achievement. Porsche's relentless pursuit of excellence in engineering and performance has once again solidified its position as a leader in the world of automotive innovation and track records.
Take a look at the YouTube video that shows a near-perfect hot lap of the Wisconsin-based racetrack, Road America. This run in a privately owned 911 GT3 RS claimed the production car lap record, taking it away from another more powerful Porsche that set the record in 2018: Hot lap in Porsche 911 GT3 RS around Road America | Porsche
Be sure to check out our YouTube channel here for more exciting and exclusive SXdrv content! And don't forget to smash that subscribe button!