Gumpert Apollo S sets Nurburgring record +video

Every car maker on the planet seems to obsessed with breaking a Nurburgring record. And who can blame them. Every time a new claim comes in people like us write about it, and that gives them publicity that would cost a fortune to buy. Probably the biggest spat this year has been over the Nissan GT-R Nurburgring record, which Porsche rubbished saying the GT-R Nissan used wasn’t road-legal. But they’ve now gone quiet on that.

But another record is probably about to cause a few rumblings. Gumpert has revealed that the Gumpert Apollo S lapped the Nurburgring in 7:11.57. Which according to Gumpert is a new Nurburgring lap record for a production car. Perhaps Gumpert hasn’t heard that a Radical SR8 did the ‘Ring in 6:55. Still, an impressive run.

But it’s hardly surprising the Gumpert achieved such a cracking time. It is about as close as you get to a road-going race car. Its 4.2 litre, twin-turbo Audi V8 will get to 120mph in less than 9 seconds and on up to a top speed of over 220 mph. So slow it isn’t. And 26-year-old Florian Gruber did a sterling job of piloting the Apollo round the ‘Ring.

Gripes apart vis-à-vis the Radical record, the Gumpert Apollo S is a huge achievement when you consider it comes properly equipped with leather and aircon.

Even if it does have a racing sequential ‘box and ground clearance of a fag paper (that’s ‘fag’ as in cigarette, for our Colonial Cousins!).

Gumpert Apollo S Nurburgring Record Video