AMG One smashes its own 'Ring record

AMG One smashes its own 'Ring record

The Green Hell, also known as the Nordschleife or Nürburgring, has been the home to the most brutal production car competition in the world. To hold this record, you must be the absolute best in the world at street-legal, track-based performance. Previously, Mercedes-Benz shocked the world by taking the production car lap record from Porsche. And to show they still mean business, they broke it again. 

Maro Engel, a DTM racing driver who also set the previous record, was given the task, and the tool for the job was the AMG One. In order to claim a record that was set by the same driver in the same car, there are a few variables at play. First, the track conditions will need to be absolutely perfect. This means the temperature needs to be warm enough to sustain but not exceed optimal tyre heat and grip. Additionally, it must be cold enough for the motor and other ventilation equipment to use as much cool air as possible. To break a record like this, you need to keep the car and its various components at their maximum operating potential. 

But these play only a minor role in the overall performance on the day. The driver is the most important factor. Maro Engel has proven to be the best man for the job, and to ensure that his new attempt outperforms their previous one, a significant amount of effort was spent analysing previous runs and noticing where elements such as battery expenditure can be used more effectively, as well as the age-old mindset of finding the fastest line. On a track that is over 20km long, it's trickier than you might think. 

On paper, the AMG One generates 782kW and employs Mercedes' Formula One hybrid technology. The AMG One is equipped with a single combustion engine and four electric motors, providing direct input applications and instantaneous power on demand, a feature further enhanced by AMG's 4MATIC+ AWD system. It's also capped at 352km/h and uses a complex active aero set up to corner as hard as possible. 

So with all the variables leading towards a perfect record-breaking opportunity, Engel headed back out to prove that the AMG One was still untouchable two years after its first outing. Two laps passed with little to show, but as the sun began to set, 6:56 p.m. marked the start of the record-setting lap. This time of day provides ideal track conditions, with the tar retaining heat from the sun's rays all day and the air cooling to a crisp 20 degrees; you couldn't ask for a better driving environment. 

Engel made use of lifting early into fast corners to recuperate more power for the longer sections of track, and it was here on his third run of the day where the record was not only beaten but extended by over five seconds. The record for the fastest production car around the Nordschleife is currently 6:29.090, and to confirm its legitimacy in accordance with Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG requirements, TÜV Rheinland documented and evaluated the vehicle to eliminate any doubts. This is an achievement that will likely be attempted but not overtaken for a while to come. 

The production lap record is one of our favourite global automotive traditions. Something as simple as breaking a track record forces brands to continue their performance development and, in turn, offers the world increasingly more spectacular cars. Congratulations, Mercedes, on this impressive feat, but I think it's time for Porsche to retaliate. 

You can watch the onboard footage of the record-breaking lap here.

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