New van lap record on the Nurburgring!

VW drafts in BTCC racer Rob Austin and a new Transporter in an attempt to dip under 10 minutes...

No doubt you'll remember the Top Gear episode: Jeremy Clarkson and an S-Type diesel on the Nurburgring, with the aim to get around in less than 10 minutes. He just about succeeded, too, only for his achievement to be undermined somewhat by Sabine Schmitz getting within 10 seconds of his time in a Transit. "I do that lap time in a van" and so on.

Remarkably that was now 13 years ago and, while unofficial, we know of no standard van - see Revo's work for the modified possibilities - that has lapped quicker since. Today that changes with this from VW, which has sent a 150hp Transporter around the Nordschleife with Rob Austin at the wheel; it seems wrong to spoil the surprise here - see the vid below for the number - but VW claims a van has now cracked the 10-minute barrier. Well, bridge to gantry at least...

As you can probably see, the Transporter was provided by Northgate Vehicle Hire - don't be gentle, it's a rental, right? - which saw some opportunity here to advertise the "quality and durability" of one of its most popular vans.

Sadly VW hasn't seen fit to release the full lap video yet, but we're on the case of pestering them for it. Finally, Volkswagen, if you're in need of a driver for a more powerful Transporter in future, or want to use the lighter and nimbler Caddy, then you know where we are...