Audi's RS 3 reclaims its victory as the fastest compact car around the 'Ring
The Audi RS 3 is no stranger to the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit. In 2021, the current model blistered around the 20.8-km-long track in 7 minutes, 40.75 seconds, making it the fastest car in its class to lap the Green Hell, before BMW defeated it in 2023 with its M2 with a time of 7 minutes, 38.70 seconds.
Not only was BMW's time quicker than the RS 3's previous record, but it was also over 13 seconds quicker than the time set by the previous M2 Competition.
Audi revisited the drawing board with determination, recognising that they could not allow this opportunity to slip away. Consequently, the facelifted RS 3 returned to the Nürburgring and tore around the track, clocking an impressive time of 7 minutes and 33.12 seconds with racing and development driver Frank Stippler at the helm.
Looking at the time, this makes the production RS 3 five seconds faster than BMW's M2.
According to Audi, the basis for the RS 3’s superb driving dynamics is the interplay between the torque splitter with its fully variable torque distribution between the rear wheels, the electronic stabilisation control, the wheel-selective torque control, and the RS sports suspension’s optional adaptive dampers.
“That was the key to our success. The new RS 3 turns in more willingly at corner entry thanks to fine-tuning, including brake torque vectoring, which allows the vehicle to be positioned earlier and better for corner exit from the apex. The result is a lower steering angle from apex to corner exit, which leads to less friction and earlier acceleration, allowing you to carry more momentum and speed onto each subsequent straight," says Stippler.
It went around the iconic track wearing Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R semi-slick tyres. A 19-inch ceramic brake system handled the braking duties, and an RS sports suspension with adaptive damper control ensured smooth cornering prowess.
As a refresher, the RS 3 is powered by a 2.5-litre 5-cylinder TFSI petrol engine delivering 294kW and 500Nm, enough for a 0-100km/h sprint time of 3.8 seconds while shifting through a 7-speed DCT transmission.
In an era where engine downsizing is prevalent, the Audi RS 3 stands out with its powerful 2.5-litre 5-cylinder powerplant—the most impressive RS 3 ever crafted by Audi. Now, the question remains: who will seize victory next?
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