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Holding a Nürburgring lap record is not just about bragging rights. Each of the 147 corners along the 13-mile course gives car makers unparalleled insight into where their machines work best, and where they must improve on.

Manufacturers spend years (if not decades) honing their cars around the Nordschleife in the hope of being crowned maker of one of the fastest cars in the world.

There is a caveat, however: the 'official' length of the lap was increased in 2019. Before this, all times were logged on a 12.8-mile circuit that effectively left out a short stretch of the T13 straight at the end of the lap.

Yet with so much emphasis being placed on setting a fast time, the Nürburgring decided that only the whole 12.944 miles would count.

The fastest car to lap the Nürburgring is the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo, with a time of 5:15:55 minutes.

Below we've divided the lap records between several different types of cars. Keep reading to see the quickest lap times in all the major categories. 

The Nürburgring lap record

Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo

Lap time: 5:19:546

When Porsche derestricted its Le Mans-winning 919 Hybrid prototype racer and sent it on a farewell tour of iconic race tracks before pulling out of endurance racing, smashing the all-time fastest lap of the Nordschleife was all the firm had in mind.

The car was 39kg lighter than its race spec, with radically reworked aerodynamics that improved downforce by 53%. The 2.0-litre V4 hybrid powertrain was tuned to produce 710bhp, with an additional 433bhp coming from an electric motor.

With Porsche works driver Timo Bernhard behind the wheel, the 919 Evo proceded to obliterate the all-time lap record, first setting a 5:24:375 in practice and then a 5:19:546 in an official run.

The Nürburgring electric lap record

Volkswagen ID R

Lap time: 6:05:33

It's a real achievement that Volkswagen has not only managed to claim the fastest lap time in an electric car with its ID R programme, but also place among the fastest-ever recorded.

The car has subsequently gone on to set records at the Goodwood Festival of Speed hillclimb and China's Tianmen Shan Big Gate Road, while the technology it pioneered will go on to influence R division's electric cars.

The Nürburgring electric production car lap record

Xiaomi SU7

Lap time: 7:04:957

Chinese newcomer Xiaomi has leapt to the forefront of the electric production car rankings with the SU7. The ludicrously powerful sports saloon displaced the previous record holder - the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT - by smashing its German counterpart's time by almost three seconds. 

Powered by a bustling 1527bhp, tri-motor powertrain, the road-legal SU7 rounded the famous track in 7:04:957. It's currently one of the fastest electric cars in the world. 

The Nürburgring front-wheel-drive lap record

Honda Civic Type R

Lap time: 7:44:88

Honda is no stranger to Nürburgring records: every iteration of the Civic Type R released over the past decade has at one point held the front-wheel-drive record.

The new FL5-generation car was fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect tyres for its run, giving it the extra grip needed to dethrone the Renault Mégane RS Trophy-R.

The fastest Nürburgring lap times by production cars

The Audi Q5 has gained a plug-in hybrid variant, which offers up to 62 miles of electric-only driving.

Badged E-hybrid Quattro and offered in both regular SUV and Sportback bodystyles, the new PHEV uses the same powertrain as the new Audi A5 and Audi A6 saloons and estates.

The powertrain is centered on Audi’s 2.0-litre turbo petrol four. Paired with a gearbox-mounted electric motor, it delivers 295bhp for a 0-62mph time of 6.2sec and a top speed of 155mph.

Electricity is drawn from a 25.9kWh (total) battery. The can be charged at a rate of 11kW by an AC charger or via regenerative braking (up to 75%), with levels selected via paddles behind the steering wheel.

The car can be started in either electric or hybrid mode.

In the UK, the Q5 E-hybrid and Q5 E-hybrid Sportback will be sold exclusively sold in four-wheel-drive Quattro guise.

Standard equipment includes 19in alloy wheels, LED lighting front and rear, S sports suspension and Audi’s advanced MMI infotainment system.

The two new Q5 models are two of 10 new PHEVs to be launched by the German brand across its line-up in 2025.

UK pricing starts at £56,740 for the regular SUV and £59,240 for the Sportback.

Orders will be taken from July for delivieres beginning in September.

The Vauxhall Grandland Electric has gained a dual-motor variant, making it the first electric car from the British brand to send power to all four corners.

Topping the line-up, the new SUV uses the same set-up as its Peugeot e-3008 and Peugeot e-5008 cousins.

This combines the standard Grandland Electric's front-mounted 210bhp motor with a 111bhp motor on the rear axle for total outputs of 321bhp and 375lb ft.

While this cuts the car's 0-62mph time by 2.9sec to 6.1sec, Vauxhall said the system is more about maximising grip and stability, especially when taking the Ford Explorer rival off road. 

A new AWD mode has been added, which keeps the two motors on continuously and delivers maximum power.

In Normal mode, the front motor is primarily used, with the new rear motor engaged “depending on the driver’s demands”.

What’s more, the range-topping Grandland gets adaptive dampers as standard, which Vauxhall said is to help the car’s comfort levels when driven on different surfaces.

Energy is drawn from the same 73kWh battery as in the standard car. Here it offers up to 311 miles in its most economical FWD setting. Vauxhall hasn't confirmed a range for when both motors are engaged.

The dual-motor Grandland Electric gets a few design tweaks to make it more slippery and distinguish it from its siblings. For example, front and rear bumper inserts and new 20in aero wheel slightly reduce its drag coefficient.

Deliveries will begin in September. Pricing has yet to be announced, but it will be more expensive than the current range-topper, the £39,000 single-motor Ultimate.