The Porsche 919 was a Le Mans Prototype, they won the 24 hours multiple times with it in a highly competitive era with technically highly advanced hybrid cars. When the programme ended, they threw the rule book out of the window and made this even faster Evo version to show, what the engineers (and drivers) can do without constraints (except physics)
Incredible achievement, it's been 6 years and nothing has come close yet. Some day, when AIs can drive faster than humans (G-force limit) might smash this record. I don't expect a human ever to do any better, at most shave a couple more seconds off but that's it.
@@paulmichaelfreedman8334Kraftstoff sowie Verbrauch sind reguliert, Reifen werden vorgegeben, technisch sind Grenzen gesetzt. Du darfst nicht einfach nen gigantischen Motor einbauen. Ähnlich zu anderen Rennwettbewerben.
It was a vanity project that paid off with an incredible result. Modern F1 cars can do it a few seconds quicker in simulation, but it's never gonna happen IRL. Before cost caps, you could imagine a team like Red Bull having a go, but now no F1 team is going to risk a multi-million dollar car and even more expensive driver going flat out around the Nordschleife, no matter how good the potential publicity. Timo's awesome record is safe atm.
@@paulmichaelfreedman8334Well, they also took it to Spa where its time was beaten by a F1 car in 2021. Around the Nürburgring its debateable if F1 would be faster around a 17km circuit but considering the strict regs they have to follow its safe to say that with a few modifications it would beat the 919 Evo. But as of now the record is set for eternity as fastest lap attempts were as far as I know banned for non street legal cars.
Bull Shit. The right answer: Record lap of the Nordschleife: 6:11.13min Date: May 28, 1983. Driver: Stefan Bellof. Vehicle: Porsche 956K chassis no. 007. Lap length: 20.835 km. Lap time: 6:11.13min. Average speed: 202 km/h.
@@granite501 iirc, it was mentioned that by Timo that his vision was blacking out in areas of the track; particularly the high-g ones or the high speed corners and braking
(theoretical) top speed of this car is around 250 mph / 400 kph , achieved during testing. top speed on nurburgring to date was 369 kph. as seen in video ofc.
@@Brookspirit yes, the early 80s Le Mans cars were optimized for straight line speed. Especially the Peugeot that drove the record on the Mulsanne straight, but that car wasn´t really competitive at the full track. But this cars is around 1 minute faster than the 80s cars on the Nordschleife back then.
The Nordschleife is insanely difficult for multiple reasons 1. Elevation difference of 300 meters, roughly 1000 feet on a looping race track, ie what you go up you have to come back down again. 2. Barely any run off areas. On most sections you drive less than three meters/yards from the barrier with no or almost no gravel bed to slow you down. Meaning any errors result in very painful, potentially fatal crashes. 3. With the elevation changes come dips/compression areas, as well as hill tops where your car may easily loose ground contact or even jump. Most race cars aren't built for jumps; they really don't like having sudden air pockets underneath. The hill tops are particularly dangerous as you can't see what is coming behind them. If you try braking while your car is already trying to get airborne you're royally screwed. 4. Many of the curves lead into blind corners. You simply are unable to see into them when you enter. You have to drive in the hope that there's no one slower in the curve because you barely have a chance if any at all of braking and slowing down. Many of the curvrs also get tighter and tighter toward the end, so you can't set your steering for one perfect arc through the curve but you have to constantly adjust. 5. The trees to the side often make for random, flashing light effects due to the sun's rays and intermittent shadows. All of these together with the very long lap makes this thing be called "The Green Hell" for good reason.
Number 5 is not really an issue, I've never noticed this while out on the track. Otherwise you are right, you need proper track knowledge before you take your car out for a lap as it can be a very difficult track to master. Most people end up in the wall because of their mistakes.
you also forgot to mention the track is 25 km long and reaches over a long stretch. The weather in the area is also quite unpredictable, leading to sudden condition changes, or mixed conditions between different parts of the track. Edit: i guess with 25 km i mean the combined track of Gran Prix Course + Nordschleife, which you usually use during the 24 hours race.
Yes, Timo Bernhard knows the track. He won multiple 24h hour races on the Nordschleife, at Le Mans and many other famous endurance races around the world. Still for him that speed is so over the top, he said himself in interview that he simply had to trust the car will grip. Absolutely mental.
I'm surprised no one has posted this yet. The car is powered by a 2 liter V4 turbo engine and an electric motor with a total output of around 1160 HP and has various energy recovery systems. It weighs 888kg as it was driven in the video.
I'm wondering if Porsche designed the engine to possibly step into F1 .. but the F1 engines are 1.6l.. but if they had the same block then had a different size bore? I think the F1 engines split the turbo assembly within the "v" of the block.
@@bdn9041 The 2024 F1 Engine is 1,6L V6 engine. 2025 is V4 afaik. I don't think Porsche had thought about F1. I mean, the 919 drive was used in endurance races. The Evo has only expanded all the restrictions in the regulations. Porsche has not yet managed to enter Formula 1. Audi will enter F1 with Sauber in 2026.
@@boblife3647 But VAG own part of Porsche and vice versa I think. That being said the F1 engines are changing in 2026. I think the ice and electric output is planned to be roughly equal which is going to be a headache as the kers element is limited to rear axle braking and most of the braking force is on the front axle which isn't connected to the powertrain. The only thing I can think of is having variable vane fans in the sidepods and airbox to generate extra electric if the rear axle braking forces isn't generating enough.. but that sounds a bit self defeating
As a German engineer, it brings me great pride to see the incredible reactions to Timo Bernhard’s lap record in the Porsche 919 on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. This achievement showcases the unique combination of technical innovation, precision, and driving skill that represents the best of German engineering. The Porsche 919 is a testament to what we as engineers can accomplish when we push the boundaries and set new standards. It’s truly inspiring to see how this performance is being recognized worldwide, especially by our American friends on RUclips and other platforms. The enthusiasm and respect expressed in these reactions are a huge honor for us. This record is not only a triumph for Porsche but also for the spirit of German engineering as a whole. Thank you for the appreciation - it encourages us to keep striving for perfection and continue shaping the future of mobility. Best regards, Frank
That's why drag races vs Porsche at YT are so ridiculous. Porsches are made for the track. I really would like to see a Demon, Hellcat or Tesla vs a GT2RS at the green Hell (Nürburgring).
Fun fact - that record is standing now since 2018, and it beat the previous record (which was a beast of its own, standing for 35 years, set during a race - so with other drivers on the track - also with a porsche) by almost a minute, which in racing is a huge margin
It's hard to put the ridiculousness of that Lap into words. I've been to the ring multiple times, even hiking around the track. If you've seen the actual topography, the elevation, and you take into account that a regular GT3 racecar takes 3 whole minutes more to circle the track - it's just mindbending. Going down Hatzenbach with 250, pass Bergwerk with almost 150 or going up kesselchen (18% incline) with 300 (more than a GT3 has topspeed on the final straight) is just fkin hilarious. Kudos to driver and engineers, they lost their minds and achieved greatness.
And the crazy thing is that the combustion engine in this thing is merely a two litre flat four like a VW beetle although somewhat better engineered. Porsche do know their shit.
Porsche always knew their shit, they've seldom produced anything that could be called inferior. Their engine technology is top tier. German engineering at its best. The only person I'd compare to F. Porsche, engineering and creativity wise, is Christian Koenigsegg.
Small engines with ridiculous amount of power output - way more than this btw - are known and built for decades. The real impressive thing here is how well the hybrid approach works on the track. And of could the insane cornering speed made possible by the aerodynamic modifications done compared to the original 919hybrid and the tailor made tires by Michelin.
@@Justforvisit as a Dane I second that, younger generations are very difficult to place... Danes are not accent free yet, like Mads Mikkelsen or Nicolai Coster Waldau, but the thing is... we (Danes) will pick up the slightest hint of our own accent... be it rythm or words we were told was a clear indicator of the person being Danish. But native English speakers don't seem to pick up the small peculiarities.
You're gonna want to watch 'Sabine Schmitz's Nurburgring Van CHALLENGE' part 1 and 2. And maybe 'In memory of Sabine Schmitz, Queen of the Nurburgring'
Transit not Transporter. It was for the 40th anniversary of the Ford Transit van. Remember the 10 minutelap time is dificult for the average drivers in a SPORTS car and she ( RIP Queen of the Nurnburgring ) did that time in an of the shelf standard DIESEL VAN !
@theo7709 Err, no it's not! It may "Transport" goods but it is called a Ford Transit and has been called a Transit Van since the 60's when villains used it as a bank heist getaway vehicle through London, i.e. my Brother-in-law and my cousin! Sabine Schmitz, queen of the Nürburgrin, R.I.P. held a 10 minute record for Driving a Transit, not a Transporter, around the track on Top Gear(?). An AEC, Routemaster, double decker London Red Bus isn't called a Transporter just because it transports people from A to B, likewise the Austin FX4 London Black Cab! The VW Transporter, circa 1950, was the iconic Camper van, the Split Screen being the most sort after, that Aussie Hippies, in the 60's, used to drive from Aus to London and sell them on the South Bank of the Thames, outside the Royal Festival Hall, so that after their year(s) travelling, they could fly back home!
The 919 is a 3 times 24h Le Mans Winner 2015 2016 2017. After these victories Porsche goes all in with the EVO to show what is possible with the car. 2 Litre Engine V4 Turbo Charged (730 HP) with Double-Hybrid-System. Recuperation at the front wheels for E-Boost (446 HP). Instead of a wastegate the turbo also connected to a generator for charging the battery. Accelerating with 4WD Front (Electric) and Rear (Mid) Petrol-Engine. Breaking E-Engine is a generator charging the battery.
What a super cool project. A demonstration of what is possible with modern technology. After this lap, the driver said that the vehicle was not at the limit, but the driver was way over it.
This run was so fast, i first thougt, is must be a game. He bet the record for 1 minute! the engine is so strong and the grip-level of the car is insane...
The story surrounding Sabine Schmitz and her Nurburgring exploits revolved around Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson who tried to complete a lap in (I think) a Jaguar saloon (sedan.) After a couple of attempts he achieved his best time and was quite pleased with himself, whereupon Sabine said to him - something like - "you call that fast? I beat that in a van." And she promptly did, a Ford Transit - and it was white!
9:28 This is one of the "courage curves" normally it is driven at full throttle.....unless your car manufacturer has already completely escalated beforehand
Walther also showed you how to drive Pikes Peak, which looks completely different today.July 11, 1987 is still unforgotten for many Quattro and Röhrl fans today - and is inextricably linked with one number: 10:47.850 minutes. This was the time 30 years ago when Walter Röhrl climbed the 4301-metre-high summit of Pikes Peak in the most spectacular Audi S1 of all time.
Fun fact to 8:56, leaning in wouldn't actually help him as you need grip on your outer wheels to turn in, the same goes for karting leaning outwards helpd you get around a corner quicker
some facts about the track: you've got around 550m elevation gain (around 1500-1600ft), the pavement is as smooth as it gets, but at such speeds with such a rigid car it looks pretty bumpy... severall times a year it's possible to ride your bike on that track - that's super fun - the fastest riders are just below 30min per lap and top speeds above 100k/mh (60mph)! 🥵 an average cyclist needs just under an hour! the goal for most enthusiast petrol heads is to get below 10min per lap! Sabine Schmitz was the queen of the "Nürburgring Nordschleife", she did at least 1500 laps. there are some legendary videos from her with the "top gear" crew! may she rest in peace!
Hey, Ryan. I love your videos and your reactions. This has nothing to do with this video, but I would be interested to know something: Do you know Liam Carpenter? He is English and lives in Germany with his German wife. He makes fun of German clichés in a very humorous and amiable way. You definitely have to take a look at it. Especially when it says again: "In Germany, we don't say...we say..." I'm sure you would be very amused by that.
Hi. Fun fact: The corner at your video 7:48 (lap time minute "3:37") you drive in race mode blind, you do not see the end of the corner. Insane ride of Timo and the sickest car in the world.
"This is a Death Wish"... YES, it isn't known as the "Green Hell". Despite the name didn't come trough death (THANK GOD, while sadly there are 140+ people that died on that track) it is was fitting description.
There are places on the track where really fast cars can jump. But this naturally also depends on how much downforce the aerodynamics of your car produce.
F1 cars have exposed wheels because of historical regulations, not because it would improve the performance. This Porsche was only about maximum performance so they covered the wheels.
This lap also put Timo at the limit fo what a healthy human being can withstand. Anything under 5 minutes, I don't ever expect to be done by a human. A properly developed and trained AI could, though.
@@KarenTondro yes you can the testing process for astronauts is a spinning thing that people have passed out from which cause g forces on your body from a centrifugal force
This is pure genius at work. Timo is a sports-car racing legend. Porsche had many capable drivers in their pool to do the lap but they choose him, since he basically helped developing this car, which in its original form won Le Mans, the World Endurance Drivers Championship and the World Endurance Constructors Championship three times in a row. Also it was his and Porsche's way to tribute the official record holder (since Timo's lap wasn't set at an official event) Stefan Bellof, who is one of Timo Bernhard's idols, but unfortunately died at the 1000km of Spa in 1985. Two years prior, Bellof had set a 6:11.3 which, to this day remains the official lap record for the Nürburgring Nordschleife, since it was set during a qualifying session for an actual race.
"You flip that upside down this thing would take flight." Basically happened in Le Mans 1999 to both Dumbreck and Webber. And things did go upside down, but not just the spoiler.
also don't forget the 911 gt1 at road atalanta aswell which made the rule for LMP and GT cars to have either vents or a hole in the front fenders to aleaviate the air out of the wheel wells to stop it happening
Timo Bernhard is a very likeable guy. This performance and his lap time will remain world records for a long time. This is technology at its finest. Just Porsche.
For youre understanding. He can Manuel Boost with the E engine. he is basicly Driving 900HP and when he need some Power (1150 MAX) , he Press a Botton and he get MORE Power then the weight ratio... So he had permanent enough Power like a Normal Car on a straight line.
Originally, the track featured four configurations, namely the 28.265 km (17.563 mi)-long Gesamtstrecke ("Whole Course"), which in turn consisted of the 22.835 km (14.189 mi) Nordschleife ("North Loop") and the 7.747 km (4.814 mi) Südschleife ("South Loop"). There was also a 2.281 km (1.417 mi) warm-up loop called Zielschleife ("Finish Loop") or Betonschleife ("Concrete Loop"), around the pit area.
I like the RUclips video of Sabine Schmitz, the Queen of Nordschleife, driving the Nürburgring in a Ford Transit. This is legendary. And you should watch (it's in English).
Anyone wants to see what the driver has to say about this (long interview, english subtitles in good quality available): "Rennfahrer Timo Bernhard über seine Nordschleifen-Rekordrunde im Porsche 919 Evo" on RUclips.
I believe the top speed on the long straight at the end was limited, because there are tire regulations that require certifications for top speeds, and those tires were certified "only" for 370kph.
The biggest expert on the Nürburgring was Sabine Schmitz. According to her own estimates, Schmitz went around the track more than 20,000 times, increasing by approximately 1,200 per year. Her familiarity with the circuit earned her the nicknames "Queen of the Nürburgring" and "the fastest taxi driver in the world". Unfortunately, she died 16 March 2021.
Great video, thank you! I love this record lap and watched it multiple times. Have you seen the legendary RUF Yellowbird record lap? It's my other favorite car video of all times besides this one here. Title is: Ruf CTR "Yellow Bird" full laps on Nürburgring Nordshleife 1987 (Option Auto). The channel name is Option Auto. This RUF was the fastest production street car at the time, with a top speed record in 1988 at the Nardò track of 342 kph. The Nordschleife video gained cult status due to the totally mental driving and drifting of Stephan Rozer on tyres, which were a lot different at that time from what we have today. The second lap in the video is the lap record.
Have you ever looked at the Isle of Man racing scene? 37.730 mile street circuit with the current lap record being 136.358 mph on a motorcycle. The most dangerous road race out there - and my family lives at the IIth milestone. Guy Martin was made a star from the "Closer to the Edge" documentary - well worth a look into in his own right. Guy decided to try for the Nurburgring lap record for his van! Brilliant. The Fred Dibnah of the modern age.
Yeah! You need to check the "Sabine Schmitz's Nurburgring Van CHALLENGE | Top Gear - Part 2" video. :) They did not even do that on a closed track but during an open hours and had to watch out for other drivers. xD Ah Sabine. You were one of the bestests.
You've seen it in video games.. but have you even tried it there? In GT6, I at least felt like it took forever in a pretty good German car, the first time I met it.. just one lap is long, not least because a track like the le' mans one, without chicanes, you can go along the long stretch w/ 320 km/h without needing to correct that often... that's not how nürburgring does a straight. Yet, I believe that it's the worlds most famous circuit for allowing regular track days for regular people with their regular cars. (For those that doesn't feel that the autobahn is thrilling enough). I wouldn't dare to actually go round nürburgring in a car that I'm not very familiar with. Edit: gotta say that the LMP classes are my absolute favourites, F1's got no chance IRL. Edit 2: Timo is great. Anyway for the USAns watching, 300 km/h is almost 200 mph
The company running this track offers the so-called "Ringtaxi", a regular BMW M5 with German Street Registration. I had the honour a couple of years ago being on this with Sabine Schmitz behind the steering wheel, a famous and popular German race driver, who knew this race track "in and out", as we call it. She grew up around the Ring and she had more than 16,000 rounds reported on this track. She unfortunately lost her fight against cancer in the meantime. This ride was about 7 unforfuckingettable minutes - there are also yt vids available of these taxi rides. My father back then stepped out of this car and said " I will NEVER say again women can't drive". There is a reason it is called "The green Hell". By the way: 369 km/h as the top speed shortly before the finish line are 229.29 miles per hour
The 919 Hybrid Evo has a four-cylinder engine with approximately 500 hp, but in addition the hybrids generate an additional approximately 750 hp. Which gives a total of 1250 hp at flat out acceleration. The wheels are covered to give the car better aerodynamics. Unlike an F1 car, the 919 Hybrid Evo is built to be able to complete a 24 hour race.
the 919 is a Le Mans 'Prototype' (LMP1), basically the top class in endurance racing, the specs are engine size (2.4L), max horsepower (700hp), top speed (200mph) and weight (850kg), the rest is pretty much do as you wish. Also, you're right about the Nurburgring being a death wish, F1 used to race it back in the day and Niki Lauda nicknamed it 'the green Hell' for how deadly it was.
The screen was 90% your face, and 10% the absolute insane lap. Commentary is one thing, but this is just your face and a postage stamp of the exciting footage.
Hi. If you are sometimes near nürburgring be adviced there are race taxis which give you insight how crazy this drivers go and you will be not much slower than real racing. But have a Kotztüte with you :-))
I need to quote something from the book "Hithicker's Guide to the Galaxy": R is a velocity measure, defined as a reasonable speed of travel that is consistent with health, mental wellbeing and not being more than say five minutes late. It is therefore clearly an almost infinitely variable figure according to circumstances, since the first two factors vary not only with speed taken as an absolute, but also with awareness of the third factor. Unless handled with tranquility this equation can result in considerable stress, ulcers and even death. R17 is not a fixed velocity, but it is clearly far too fast. Well I guess I experienced just a speed of R20.
The plane sound you hear is the boost and the gearbox. Boost of the electrical motors while the boost is up and at high speed it’s the gearbox. You hear the same sounds in gt3 cars.
The crazy thing is, the bumps on the track make his foot sometimes lift off the pedal just enough that you can see the throttle input bouncing around in the straights
You could have prepared with a map of the track, almost every corner or passage has a certain name. Just by only naming the corners while the car flies through gives you an image how really faking fast that car with that driver was on that day. If you ever get the chance to visit the Nürburgring, you might instantly bow down to what Timo Bernhard did with the Porsche 919.
There are a lot of videos on yt about people going around the track in their own car and crashing. They totalled their car and they have to pay for the barriers to be repaired.
It's crazy though. If you didn't know any better you'd think it was someone making a fast lap in a game, since it "couldn't be real" the way he drove. Great lap, great car, great driver.
The car that the 919 EVO Took the record from It's Great Grandfather, The Porsche 956. A car which at the 1983 24-Hours of Le Mans, out of top 10, 9 of them were 956s. After which Porsche set the Nurburgring record of 6.11.130 until 919 EVOs in 2018. YEP!!! It's record stood for 35 YEARS!!!!
What always gets me is that he goes 300kph FLAT through Schwedenkreuz (the long left hander at 4:06-4:10 in your video). He doesn't even BEGIN braking until he's nearly at the right hander afterwards which is usually a 2nd gear corner in ANY other car.
5:20 very few road cars hold 100 kph through there. Going 150 kph would upset most mortals through there. Like a roller coaster turn without leaning into it.
I highly recommend watching a video titled "Ruf CTR "Yellow Bird" full laps on Nürburgring Nordshleife 1987 (Option Auto)", you'll see a dude chuck an unruly RUF tuned Porsche around this same track. It's magnificent.
Someone from America pronouncing the "e" in Porsche?
*German heartbeat intensifies*
🤣🤣🤣 haha that one is funny! But yeah, you are right :)
just google porsche german pronounciation
@@micha_nik4052 Nein, warum denn?
@micha_nik4052 why would we google what we already know? Porsche is pronounced Porsche😂 wow
@@nielsoudegriep2900 because americans pronounce it „Porsch“ but ist called „PorschE“
The Porsche 919 was a Le Mans Prototype, they won the 24 hours multiple times with it in a highly competitive era with technically highly advanced hybrid cars. When the programme ended, they threw the rule book out of the window and made this even faster Evo version to show, what the engineers (and drivers) can do without constraints (except physics)
Incredible achievement, it's been 6 years and nothing has come close yet. Some day, when AIs can drive faster than humans (G-force limit) might smash this record. I don't expect a human ever to do any better, at most shave a couple more seconds off but that's it.
@@paulmichaelfreedman8334Kraftstoff sowie Verbrauch sind reguliert, Reifen werden vorgegeben, technisch sind Grenzen gesetzt. Du darfst nicht einfach nen gigantischen Motor einbauen.
Ähnlich zu anderen Rennwettbewerben.
It was a vanity project that paid off with an incredible result.
Modern F1 cars can do it a few seconds quicker in simulation, but it's never gonna happen IRL.
Before cost caps, you could imagine a team like Red Bull having a go, but now no F1 team is going to risk a multi-million dollar car and even more expensive driver going flat out around the Nordschleife, no matter how good the potential publicity.
Timo's awesome record is safe atm.
@@paulmichaelfreedman8334Well, they also took it to Spa where its time was beaten by a F1 car in 2021. Around the Nürburgring its debateable if F1 would be faster around a 17km circuit but considering the strict regs they have to follow its safe to say that with a few modifications it would beat the 919 Evo.
But as of now the record is set for eternity as fastest lap attempts were as far as I know banned for non street legal cars.
Bull Shit. The right answer:
Record lap of the Nordschleife: 6:11.13min
Date: May 28, 1983.
Driver: Stefan Bellof.
Vehicle: Porsche 956K chassis no. 007.
Lap length: 20.835 km.
Lap time: 6:11.13min.
Average speed: 202 km/h.
My favorite thing is that he (the driver) said it could probably go faster but the limit is the human body and mind
Yes, he said his neck was the limit.
If the camera was not fixed to the car, but to driver's helmet, the video would be impossible to look at without throwing up.
Self driving cars are the solution. But then it is less fun.
@@granite501 iirc, it was mentioned that by Timo that his vision was blacking out in areas of the track; particularly the high-g ones or the high speed corners and braking
(theoretical) top speed of this car is around 250 mph / 400 kph , achieved during testing. top speed on nurburgring to date was 369 kph. as seen in video ofc.
Nic,e but they were doing over 250mph down the Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans back in the 1980s before they ruined the track.
@@Brookspirit the prior record on the Ring was Stefan Bellof in a Porsche 956 in 1983 with 6 minutes 11 seconds.
@@Brookspirit yes, the early 80s Le Mans cars were optimized for straight line speed. Especially the Peugeot that drove the record on the Mulsanne straight, but that car wasn´t really competitive at the full track.
But this cars is around 1 minute faster than the 80s cars on the Nordschleife back then.
@@niclaswenzel8689better brakes and tires and more downforce.
Top speed is easily over 400 but the gearbox is build for the Le Mans Circuit and that short straight. The engine was in the rpm limiter.
"it is not a super smooth racetrack"😂 - welcome to the Nürburgring - the opposite of super smooth
Not called "Green Hell" for nothing 😁
@@Justforvisit If your car survived the Green Hell, you have a "car".
It's actually not bad at 80kmh. It's rough at 350 though.
The Nordschleife is perfectly smooth if you are driving around in a stock Fiesta. In a race car at lightspeed not so much, no. :D
The Nordschleife is insanely difficult for multiple reasons
1. Elevation difference of 300 meters, roughly 1000 feet on a looping race track, ie what you go up you have to come back down again.
2. Barely any run off areas. On most sections you drive less than three meters/yards from the barrier with no or almost no gravel bed to slow you down. Meaning any errors result in very painful, potentially fatal crashes.
3. With the elevation changes come dips/compression areas, as well as hill tops where your car may easily loose ground contact or even jump. Most race cars aren't built for jumps; they really don't like having sudden air pockets underneath.
The hill tops are particularly dangerous as you can't see what is coming behind them. If you try braking while your car is already trying to get airborne you're royally screwed.
4. Many of the curves lead into blind corners. You simply are unable to see into them when you enter. You have to drive in the hope that there's no one slower in the curve because you barely have a chance if any at all of braking and slowing down. Many of the curvrs also get tighter and tighter toward the end, so you can't set your steering for one perfect arc through the curve but you have to constantly adjust.
5. The trees to the side often make for random, flashing light effects due to the sun's rays and intermittent shadows.
All of these together with the very long lap makes this thing be called "The Green Hell" for good reason.
...and it puts the _famous_ Indy 500 into a new perspective.
Number 5 is not really an issue, I've never noticed this while out on the track. Otherwise you are right, you need proper track knowledge before you take your car out for a lap as it can be a very difficult track to master. Most people end up in the wall because of their mistakes.
you also forgot to mention the track is 25 km long and reaches over a long stretch. The weather in the area is also quite unpredictable, leading to sudden condition changes, or mixed conditions between different parts of the track.
Edit: i guess with 25 km i mean the combined track of Gran Prix Course + Nordschleife, which you usually use during the 24 hours race.
Yes, Timo Bernhard knows the track. He won multiple 24h hour races on the Nordschleife, at Le Mans and many other famous endurance races around the world. Still for him that speed is so over the top, he said himself in interview that he simply had to trust the car will grip. Absolutely mental.
I'm surprised no one has posted this yet. The car is powered by a 2 liter V4 turbo engine and an electric motor with a total output of around 1160 HP and has various energy recovery systems. It weighs 888kg as it was driven in the video.
I'm wondering if Porsche designed the engine to possibly step into F1 .. but the F1 engines are 1.6l.. but if they had the same block then had a different size bore? I think the F1 engines split the turbo assembly within the "v" of the block.
@@bdn9041 The 2024 F1 Engine is 1,6L V6 engine. 2025 is V4 afaik. I don't think Porsche had thought about F1. I mean, the 919 drive was used in endurance races. The Evo has only expanded all the restrictions in the regulations.
Porsche has not yet managed to enter Formula 1. Audi will enter F1 with Sauber in 2026.
@@boblife3647 But VAG own part of Porsche and vice versa I think. That being said the F1 engines are changing in 2026. I think the ice and electric output is planned to be roughly equal which is going to be a headache as the kers element is limited to rear axle braking and most of the braking force is on the front axle which isn't connected to the powertrain. The only thing I can think of is having variable vane fans in the sidepods and airbox to generate extra electric if the rear axle braking forces isn't generating enough.. but that sounds a bit self defeating
I believe Timo Bernhard said that the car could actually go even faster around there, but he himself as a human being couldn't.
As a German engineer, it brings me great pride to see the incredible reactions to Timo Bernhard’s lap record in the Porsche 919 on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. This achievement showcases the unique combination of technical innovation, precision, and driving skill that represents the best of German engineering. The Porsche 919 is a testament to what we as engineers can accomplish when we push the boundaries and set new standards.
It’s truly inspiring to see how this performance is being recognized worldwide, especially by our American friends on RUclips and other platforms. The enthusiasm and respect expressed in these reactions are a huge honor for us. This record is not only a triumph for Porsche but also for the spirit of German engineering as a whole.
Thank you for the appreciation - it encourages us to keep striving for perfection and continue shaping the future of mobility.
Best regards,
Frank
So adorable this co-driving gestures and facial expressions of Ryan 😂😊
Yes! 🤣
so funny
That's why drag races vs Porsche at YT are so ridiculous. Porsches are made for the track. I really would like to see a Demon, Hellcat or Tesla vs a GT2RS at the green Hell (Nürburgring).
They would get SMOKED
Fun fact - that record is standing now since 2018, and it beat the previous record (which was a beast of its own, standing for 35 years, set during a race - so with other drivers on the track - also with a porsche) by almost a minute, which in racing is a huge margin
It's hard to put the ridiculousness of that Lap into words. I've been to the ring multiple times, even hiking around the track. If you've seen the actual topography, the elevation, and you take into account that a regular GT3 racecar takes 3 whole minutes more to circle the track - it's just mindbending. Going down Hatzenbach with 250, pass Bergwerk with almost 150 or going up kesselchen (18% incline) with 300 (more than a GT3 has topspeed on the final straight) is just fkin hilarious. Kudos to driver and engineers, they lost their minds and achieved greatness.
And the crazy thing is that the combustion engine in this thing is merely a two litre flat four like a VW beetle although somewhat better engineered. Porsche do know their shit.
V4 actually, even more quirky
Porsche always knew their shit, they've seldom produced anything that could be called inferior. Their engine technology is top tier. German engineering at its best.
The only person I'd compare to F. Porsche, engineering and creativity wise, is Christian Koenigsegg.
Small engines with ridiculous amount of power output - way more than this btw - are known and built for decades. The real impressive thing here is how well the hybrid approach works on the track. And of could the insane cornering speed made possible by the aerodynamic modifications done compared to the original 919hybrid and the tailor made tires by Michelin.
Timo Bernhard
"Do you still need the car for anything after i'm done with it?"
Porsche rep
"Äähm..."
Timo
"Okay, see you in five minutes."
That should have been:
" Du yu steel need ze cah foah enniesing aftuh ayim dun wissit?"
@@paulmichaelfreedman8334 No, not all of us germans speak English with a Bavarian accent. Most nowadays are even pretty accent free. Mostly.
@@paulmichaelfreedman8334to be accurate it should have been: Braucht ihr das Auto noch, wenn ich damit fertig bin?
@@Justforvisit as a Dane I second that, younger generations are very difficult to place...
Danes are not accent free yet, like Mads Mikkelsen or Nicolai Coster Waldau, but the thing is... we (Danes) will pick up the slightest hint of our own accent... be it rythm or words we were told was a clear indicator of the person being Danish.
But native English speakers don't seem to pick up the small peculiarities.
The car needed a cigarette after that.
You're gonna want to watch 'Sabine Schmitz's Nurburgring Van CHALLENGE' part 1 and 2.
And maybe 'In memory of Sabine Schmitz, Queen of the Nurburgring'
This needs to be moved to the top...
The acceleration on that monster is breathtaking
Electric Drive benefits ftw 😁
One of the greatest records: Sabine Schmitz in a Ford transporter in 10:23 ....
Ford Transit. Transporter is VW (you know the one all the hippies used to drive in)
@@paulmichaelfreedman8334 it's still a transporter...
Transit not Transporter.
It was for the 40th anniversary of the Ford Transit van.
Remember the 10 minutelap time is dificult for the average drivers in a SPORTS car and she ( RIP Queen of the Nurnburgring ) did that time in an of the shelf standard DIESEL VAN !
@theo7709 Err, no it's not! It may "Transport" goods but it is called a Ford Transit and has been called a Transit Van since the 60's when villains used it as a bank heist getaway vehicle through London, i.e. my Brother-in-law and my cousin!
Sabine Schmitz, queen of the Nürburgrin, R.I.P. held a 10 minute record for Driving a Transit, not a Transporter, around the track on Top Gear(?).
An AEC, Routemaster, double decker London Red Bus isn't called a Transporter just because it transports people from A to B, likewise the Austin FX4 London Black Cab!
The VW Transporter, circa 1950, was the iconic Camper van, the Split Screen being the most sort after, that Aussie Hippies, in the 60's, used to drive from Aus to London and sell them on the South Bank of the Thames, outside the Royal Festival Hall, so that after their year(s) travelling, they could fly back home!
Sabine ist echt viel zu früh von uns gegangen. Der Nordschleife fehlt ihre Königin.
The 919 is a 3 times 24h Le Mans Winner 2015 2016 2017. After these victories Porsche goes all in with the EVO to show what is possible with the car. 2 Litre Engine V4 Turbo Charged (730 HP) with Double-Hybrid-System. Recuperation at the front wheels for E-Boost (446 HP). Instead of a wastegate the turbo also connected to a generator for charging the battery. Accelerating with 4WD Front (Electric) and Rear (Mid) Petrol-Engine. Breaking E-Engine is a generator charging the battery.
I had the fortune to be driven around the Nürburgring in a 550hp BMW (Ringtaxi) in 2007... unforgettable experience.
What a super cool project. A demonstration of what is possible with modern technology. After this lap, the driver said that the vehicle was not at the limit, but the driver was way over it.
The former record was from 1983 and Timo did beat it by almost 1min
Some say… that Timo's balls of steel kept him on the ground and kept him from taking off and crashing somewhere into Belgium.
This run was so fast, i first thougt, is must be a game. He bet the record for 1 minute! the engine is so strong and the grip-level of the car is insane...
Hi from the Nürburgring! 🙋♀
The story surrounding Sabine Schmitz and her Nurburgring exploits revolved around Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson who tried to complete a lap in (I think) a Jaguar saloon (sedan.) After a couple of attempts he achieved his best time and was quite pleased with himself, whereupon Sabine said to him - something like - "you call that fast? I beat that in a van." And she promptly did, a Ford Transit - and it was white!
She din't actually beat his time though. But the effort alone was pretty epic and she (and the viewers) had lots of fun! RIP Sabine.
You should watch the Nurburgring Nordschleife Touristfahrt Compilations! 🤣👌🏼✌🏼
9:28 This is one of the "courage curves" normally it is driven at full throttle.....unless your car manufacturer has already completely escalated beforehand
It's the downforce that car has. It's sticks to the ground. That's the secret. And when the electric motor power turn on of course too... amazing car!
Walther also showed you how to drive Pikes Peak, which looks completely different today.July 11, 1987 is still unforgotten for many Quattro and Röhrl fans today - and is inextricably linked with one number: 10:47.850 minutes. This was the time 30 years ago when Walter Röhrl climbed the 4301-metre-high summit of Pikes Peak in the most spectacular Audi S1 of all time.
Fun fact to 8:56, leaning in wouldn't actually help him as you need grip on your outer wheels to turn in, the same goes for karting leaning outwards helpd you get around a corner quicker
some facts about the track: you've got around 550m elevation gain (around 1500-1600ft), the pavement is as smooth as it gets, but at such speeds with such a rigid car it looks pretty bumpy... severall times a year it's possible to ride your bike on that track - that's super fun - the fastest riders are just below 30min per lap and top speeds above 100k/mh (60mph)! 🥵 an average cyclist needs just under an hour! the goal for most enthusiast petrol heads is to get below 10min per lap! Sabine Schmitz was the queen of the "Nürburgring Nordschleife", she did at least 1500 laps. there are some legendary videos from her with the "top gear" crew! may she rest in peace!
Hey, Ryan. I love your videos and your reactions. This has nothing to do with this video, but I would be interested to know something: Do you know Liam Carpenter? He is English and lives in Germany with his German wife. He makes fun of German clichés in a very humorous and amiable way. You definitely have to take a look at it. Especially when it says again: "In Germany, we don't say...we say..." I'm sure you would be very amused by that.
Hi. Fun fact: The corner at your video 7:48 (lap time minute "3:37") you drive in race mode blind, you do not see the end of the corner. Insane ride of Timo and the sickest car in the world.
"This is a Death Wish"... YES, it isn't known as the "Green Hell". Despite the name didn't come trough death (THANK GOD, while sadly there are 140+ people that died on that track) it is was fitting description.
There are places on the track where really fast cars can jump. But this naturally also depends on how much downforce the aerodynamics of your car produce.
problem is to much downforce and you need a special suit to not break your bones
Nickname of the Nürburgring was "Die grüne Hölle" (The green hell) 😉
The big daddy of every racetrack! Faster than lewis hamilton in quali mode. Plus supersoft tires...😊😊🎉
I'm living just 100km away. Greetz from Saarland 🤘
Hey Ryan, Kumpel!
Super Video! Its the best Porsche ever!!
F1 cars have exposed wheels because of historical regulations, not because it would improve the performance. This Porsche was only about maximum performance so they covered the wheels.
Years ago I was a passenger in an Opel Commodore GSE on the Hockenheimring. I lost consciousness in two corners due to the centrifugal force.
This lap also put Timo at the limit fo what a healthy human being can withstand. Anything under 5 minutes, I don't ever expect to be done by a human. A properly developed and trained AI could, though.
youy really must of had a death wish those v body platform cars are death traps I should know I've owned 2 and driven countless of them
You can't lose consciousness by centrifugal forces
@@KarenTondro Why?
@@KarenTondro yes you can the testing process for astronauts is a spinning thing that people have passed out from which cause g forces on your body from a centrifugal force
This is pure genius at work. Timo is a sports-car racing legend. Porsche had many capable drivers in their pool to do the lap but they choose him, since he basically helped developing this car, which in its original form won Le Mans, the World Endurance Drivers Championship and the World Endurance Constructors Championship three times in a row. Also it was his and Porsche's way to tribute the official record holder (since Timo's lap wasn't set at an official event) Stefan Bellof, who is one of Timo Bernhard's idols, but unfortunately died at the 1000km of Spa in 1985.
Two years prior, Bellof had set a 6:11.3 which, to this day remains the official lap record for the Nürburgring Nordschleife, since it was set during a qualifying session for an actual race.
The vehicles generate so much downforce on the road that they could theoretically travel at 100 km/h on the ceiling of a tunnel.
Wait until you learn about the McMurtry, which can do this while standing still!
"You flip that upside down this thing would take flight."
Basically happened in Le Mans 1999 to both Dumbreck and Webber.
And things did go upside down, but not just the spoiler.
In 2015 a Nissan GT-R GT3 went flying during the VLN race on the Nürburg Ring.
also don't forget the 911 gt1 at road atalanta aswell which made the rule for LMP and GT cars to have either vents or a hole in the front fenders to aleaviate the air out of the wheel wells to stop it happening
at 87 its the slowest corner on the track, i love this track and have been there so many times
Timo Bernhard is a very likeable guy. This performance and his lap time will remain world records for a long time. This is technology at its finest. Just Porsche.
Normal People will pee, poop and throw up at the same Time while driving so fast. Respect for the Driver. 👍
For youre understanding. He can Manuel Boost with the E engine. he is basicly Driving 900HP and when he need some Power (1150 MAX) , he Press a Botton and he get MORE Power then the weight ratio... So he had permanent enough Power like a Normal Car on a straight line.
When there are no races at the Nürburgring, the race track is also accessible to normal people, you should take a look at a few Nürburgring fails.
Originally, the track featured four configurations, namely the 28.265 km (17.563 mi)-long Gesamtstrecke ("Whole Course"), which in turn consisted of the 22.835 km (14.189 mi) Nordschleife ("North Loop") and the 7.747 km (4.814 mi) Südschleife ("South Loop"). There was also a 2.281 km (1.417 mi) warm-up loop called Zielschleife ("Finish Loop") or Betonschleife ("Concrete Loop"), around the pit area.
He drove a completely different route. The steep section that was still used in Bellof's day no longer exists. You have no idea.
I like the RUclips video of Sabine Schmitz, the Queen of Nordschleife, driving the Nürburgring in a Ford Transit. This is legendary. And you should watch (it's in English).
Anyone wants to see what the driver has to say about this (long interview, english subtitles in good quality available): "Rennfahrer Timo Bernhard über seine Nordschleifen-Rekordrunde im Porsche 919 Evo" on RUclips.
I believe the top speed on the long straight at the end was limited, because there are tire regulations that require certifications for top speeds, and those tires were certified "only" for 370kph.
6:38 no it's the "Green Hell"
One of the best videos on RUclips imho and one of the best reaction videos by Ryan, also imho.
His motivation for the fast lap time was an angry BMW right behind him because the Porsche wouldn't let him overtake ;)
No, it was a white sprinter (typical delivery van by Mercedez Benz).
Neither a BMW nor a Mercedes can keep up with this car...
Still can’t believe Porsche made this absolute unregulated beast of a car. A great tribute to a very good race car.
The former F1 track of the Nürburgring is 5.1 km long. The shown long track, the Nordschleife (it is called green hell) is 20.8 km long.
Hey, props for pronouncing the "e" at the end of "Porsche", most American / English speakers drop that.
And you don't even realize the elevation change that track has, it's really impressive in person. That's a must visit place for every motorhead
6:01 the lowest point on track called "Ex Mühle Breitscheid"
This guy loves his Motorsport, I dont believe he knows nothing😄
I like his reactions to the speed.
The biggest expert on the Nürburgring was Sabine Schmitz. According to her own estimates, Schmitz went around the track more than 20,000 times, increasing by approximately 1,200 per year. Her familiarity with the circuit earned her the nicknames "Queen of the Nürburgring" and "the fastest taxi driver in the world". Unfortunately, she died 16 March 2021.
Great video, thank you! I love this record lap and watched it multiple times. Have you seen the legendary RUF Yellowbird record lap? It's my other favorite car video of all times besides this one here. Title is: Ruf CTR "Yellow Bird" full laps on Nürburgring Nordshleife 1987 (Option Auto). The channel name is Option Auto. This RUF was the fastest production street car at the time, with a top speed record in 1988 at the Nardò track of 342 kph. The Nordschleife video gained cult status due to the totally mental driving and drifting of Stephan Rozer on tyres, which were a lot different at that time from what we have today. The second lap in the video is the lap record.
Pushing hard on the brakes requires a force equivalent with pushing 125kg+ with one’s left leg/foot.
This Lap is one of the most insane Laps I have ever seen and I bet this record is going to stand for MANY years.
Have you ever looked at the Isle of Man racing scene? 37.730 mile street circuit with the current lap record being 136.358 mph on a motorcycle. The most dangerous road race out there - and my family lives at the IIth milestone. Guy Martin was made a star from the "Closer to the Edge" documentary - well worth a look into in his own right. Guy decided to try for the Nurburgring lap record for his van! Brilliant. The Fred Dibnah of the modern age.
There is almost a 1000 foot elevation change at the Nürburgring, not really apparent or visible in a video.
Yeah! You need to check the "Sabine Schmitz's Nurburgring Van CHALLENGE | Top Gear - Part 2" video. :)
They did not even do that on a closed track but during an open hours and had to watch out for other drivers. xD
Ah Sabine. You were one of the bestests.
In Germany we have that and in the us they have NASCAR 😂
Watch Sabine Schmitz's Nurburgring Van CHALLENGE | Top Gear
6:20 you are right! what you hear spooling up like a plane, is the Turbo and Turbo = Turbine = Plane ;-)
You've seen it in video games.. but have you even tried it there?
In GT6, I at least felt like it took forever in a pretty good German car, the first time I met it.. just one lap is long, not least because a track like the le' mans one, without chicanes, you can go along the long stretch w/ 320 km/h without needing to correct that often... that's not how nürburgring does a straight.
Yet, I believe that it's the worlds most famous circuit for allowing regular track days for regular people with their regular cars. (For those that doesn't feel that the autobahn is thrilling enough).
I wouldn't dare to actually go round nürburgring in a car that I'm not very familiar with.
Edit: gotta say that the LMP classes are my absolute favourites, F1's got no chance IRL.
Edit 2: Timo is great. Anyway for the USAns watching, 300 km/h is almost 200 mph
Watch the tourist crashes at the Nurburgring. They’re mostly silly 😜
The company running this track offers the so-called "Ringtaxi", a regular BMW M5 with German Street Registration.
I had the honour a couple of years ago being on this with Sabine Schmitz behind the steering wheel, a famous and popular German race driver, who knew this race track "in and out", as we call it.
She grew up around the Ring and she had more than 16,000 rounds reported on this track. She unfortunately lost her fight against cancer in the meantime. This ride was about 7 unforfuckingettable minutes - there are also yt vids available of these taxi rides.
My father back then stepped out of this car and said " I will NEVER say again women can't drive".
There is a reason it is called "The green Hell".
By the way: 369 km/h as the top speed shortly before the finish line are 229.29 miles per hour
The 919 Hybrid Evo has a four-cylinder engine with approximately 500 hp, but in addition the hybrids generate an additional approximately 750 hp. Which gives a total of 1250 hp at flat out acceleration. The wheels are covered to give the car better aerodynamics. Unlike an F1 car, the 919 Hybrid Evo is built to be able to complete a 24 hour race.
from 100 to 200 in a second!
look up a few of the old races from the time there was still formula 1 racing there ... really fun to see
the 919 is a Le Mans 'Prototype' (LMP1), basically the top class in endurance racing, the specs are engine size (2.4L), max horsepower (700hp), top speed (200mph) and weight (850kg), the rest is pretty much do as you wish.
Also, you're right about the Nurburgring being a death wish, F1 used to race it back in the day and Niki Lauda nicknamed it 'the green Hell' for how deadly it was.
You need to see Sabine Schimtz taking a van around this track. She was the queen of the ring. An absolute legend.
The screen was 90% your face, and 10% the absolute insane lap. Commentary is one thing, but this is just your face and a postage stamp of the exciting footage.
Hi. If you are sometimes near nürburgring be adviced there are race taxis which give you insight how crazy
this drivers go and you will be not much slower than real racing.
But have a Kotztüte with you :-))
The Nordschleife is one of world most bumpy, backbreaking racetracks. You should also watch the ADAC 24 hrs GT race, that is amazing
I need to quote something from the book "Hithicker's Guide to the Galaxy":
R is a velocity measure, defined as a reasonable speed of travel
that is consistent with health, mental wellbeing and not being
more than say five minutes late. It is therefore clearly an almost
infinitely variable figure according to circumstances, since the
first two factors vary not only with speed taken as an absolute,
but also with awareness of the third factor. Unless handled with
tranquility this equation can result in considerable stress, ulcers
and even death.
R17 is not a fixed velocity, but it is clearly far too fast.
Well I guess I experienced just a speed of R20.
The plane sound you hear is the boost and the gearbox. Boost of the electrical motors while the boost is up and at high speed it’s the gearbox. You hear the same sounds in gt3 cars.
The crazy thing is, the bumps on the track make his foot sometimes lift off the pedal just enough that you can see the throttle input bouncing around in the straights
You could have prepared with a map of the track, almost every corner or passage has a certain name. Just by only naming the corners while the car flies through gives you an image how really faking fast that car with that driver was on that day. If you ever get the chance to visit the Nürburgring, you might instantly bow down to what Timo Bernhard did with the Porsche 919.
There are a lot of videos on yt about people going around the track in their own car and crashing. They totalled their car and they have to pay for the barriers to be repaired.
For the Americans and British something to take note of is that 300kmh is 186mph so give you a better understanding of how fast that car is.
In this setup, without the LMP rules applied, this car has so much downforce, that it could drive on a wall.
It's crazy though. If you didn't know any better you'd think it was someone making a fast lap in a game, since it "couldn't be real" the way he drove. Great lap, great car, great driver.
The car that the 919 EVO Took the record from It's Great Grandfather, The Porsche 956. A car which at the 1983 24-Hours of Le Mans, out of top 10, 9 of them were 956s. After which Porsche set the Nurburgring record of 6.11.130 until 919 EVOs in 2018. YEP!!! It's record stood for 35 YEARS!!!!
With that car, the faster you're going the more traction you get, that thing makes some incredible downforce, that's how he's keeping traction
German girl: "My parents aren't at home! Want to come over to have some fun?"
German boy with a Porsche: "I am already at your door!" ... XD
What always gets me is that he goes 300kph FLAT through Schwedenkreuz (the long left hander at 4:06-4:10 in your video). He doesn't even BEGIN braking until he's nearly at the right hander afterwards which is usually a 2nd gear corner in ANY other car.
5:20 very few road cars hold 100 kph through there. Going 150 kph would upset most mortals through there. Like a roller coaster turn without leaning into it.
I highly recommend watching a video titled "Ruf CTR "Yellow Bird" full laps on Nürburgring Nordshleife 1987 (Option Auto)", you'll see a dude chuck an unruly RUF tuned Porsche around this same track. It's magnificent.