Audi reclaims the Nürburgring lap record with the RS3

The compact car is the fastest in its class on the Nordschleife thanks to its five-cylinder engine.

Photo by: Audi

By: Christopher Otto

Published by: Brian Potter

Jun 22, 2024 at 3:09am ET

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In the race for the prestigious lap record on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, Audi once again has a head start, at least in the compact class. With a time of 7'33''123, the future Audi RS3 has taken five seconds off the previous record holder, the BMW M2!

Motorsport and Audi legend Frank Stippler drove a pre-production model of the restyled Audi RS3 around the 20.832-kilometre circuit to set a new record time. The racing driver, who had just won the famous Nürburgring 24-hour race in an Audi R8 LMS GT3, thus reclaimed his own record, which he had achieved in 2021 with the end-of-life RS3 and which he had subsequently had to relinquish to the BMW M2.

Audi RS3 lap record on the Nordschleife

Audi

His record lap at the time was 7'40''748, more than seven seconds quicker than the current, refined model. This shows the precision work that Auto Sport has put into Audi's facelift, known as the 'product upgrade'. In particular, cornering behaviour has been optimised.

"That was the key to success," explains Frank Stippler. "Thanks to the fine-tuning of Brake Torque Vectoring, among other things, the new RS 3 turns more readily as soon as it enters the bend, enabling the vehicle to be positioned earlier and better for exiting the bend, at the latest from the apex. The result is a smaller steering angle between the apex and the exit of the bend, leading to less friction and earlier acceleration. As a result, you gain more momentum and speed on each subsequent straight."

In addition to the excellent driving dynamics achieved by the Torque Splitter with its fully variable torque split between the rear wheels, electronic stabilisation control and selective torque control of the wheels, it is above all an improved algorithm for the Modular Drive Dynamics Controller that has now made it possible to link the systems even more effectively and efficiently, thereby contributing to improved performance.

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On the other hand, the emblematic five-cylinder engine and its 400 PS have remained unchanged. Tyres and brakes are decisive when it comes to lap times. The Audi RS3 broke records with semi-slick Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tyres and the optional ceramic braking system.