Volkswagen ID. R on the Hunt for the Nürburgring Electric Record

Volkswagen set its sights on the electric-vehicle lap record at Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife with the ID. R, its purpose-built electric racing prototype. The attempt followed the car’s record-setting performance at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 2018.

Romain Dumas was selected to drive the ID. R. The French racer brought extensive experience at the Nordschleife, including multiple victories in the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

A Different Challenge

The 20.8-kilometre Nordschleife presented markedly different demands from Pikes Peak. Its long straights, high-speed corners and rapid elevation changes required Volkswagen Motorsport to revise the car’s aerodynamic configuration and energy-management strategy.

At the time the project was announced, the electric lap record stood at 6 minutes 45.90 seconds. Peter Dumbreck had established that benchmark in a NIO EP9 in 2017.

The ID. R

The all-wheel-drive prototype used two electric motors producing a combined 500 kW, equivalent to approximately 680 metric horsepower. Volkswagen developed the car as a technological showcase rather than a road-going production model.

• Power: 500 kW from two electric motors
• Drive: Electric all-wheel drive
• Driver: Romain Dumas
• Target: The Nürburgring Nordschleife electric lap record

The record campaign was also intended to demonstrate the performance potential of electric propulsion while supporting Volkswagen’s broader development of its ID. electric-vehicle family.

Record Attempt and Result

Volkswagen subsequently completed the record attempt on June 3, 2019. Dumas drove the ID. R around the Nordschleife in 6 minutes 5.336 seconds, surpassing the previous electric benchmark by 40.564 seconds.