As it stands, it appears that only one car can currently surpass the Mercedes-AMG One's lap record at the Nürburgring. Yes, another AMG One. The previous record set on October 28, 2022, by Mercedes‑AMG brand ambassador Maro Engel is now obsolete. This is due to Engel's recent achievement on September 23, 2024, where he crossed the finish line in 6 minutes and 29.09 seconds, a significant improvement over the previous record of 6 minutes 35.18 seconds.
For clarity, we are referring to the longer 12.92-mile (20.83-kilometer) configuration of the Green Hell. The AMG One is now the first street-legal production car to break the 6:30 mark. Mercedes does not disclose lap times for the shorter 12.8-mile (20.6-kilometer) layout, but the 2022 hot lap was completed in 6 minutes and 30.7 seconds.
The decision to attempt another lap was driven by the belief that there was room for improvement. In the previous attempt, track conditions were suboptimal, with some sections of the challenging circuit being damp. AMG shattered its own record during Engel's third timed lap on a dry Nordschleife, with temperatures measured at 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) on the asphalt and 59 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius) in the air. These ideal conditions allowed for a better performance compared to nearly two years ago.
It's difficult to envision many cars that could challenge the AMG One's lap record. The Aston Martin Valkyrie and the upcoming McLaren W1 are among the few contenders. The successor to the LaFerrari is also a potential threat. The Red Bull RB17 and the Lotus Evija X are excluded due to their track-only nature. The rise of electric hypercars might pose a challenge, but given the length of the Nürburgring, it's unlikely.
Rimac's new Nevera R might prove otherwise. Porsche has hinted at conquering the 'Ring with the Mission X, but a production version has yet to be announced. The overall record remains with the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo, set in 2018 by racing driver Timo Bernhard with a mind-boggling 5 minutes and 19.5 seconds lap. An honorable mention goes to the electric Volkswagen ID.R, driven by Romain Dumas to a 6:05 lap in 2019.
