Thursday 13th September 2018

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...

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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...

[Craikeybaby]

I’m sure I read somewhere that Guy Martin was working on some sort of van ‘ring lap record attempt.

[Onehp]

220hp diesel isn't really the best one can do tuned now. German HGP will give you a VR6 3.6 biturbo with 700+ bhp in your stripped transporter, esp recalibrated too if you asked nicely, if you pay them enough...

[Agent XXX]

Doesn't really matter about 'Ring times. They're the fastest vehicle on the motorways so wins everything

[simonrockman]

Would've been quicker if it was white.

[geeks]

Wasn't this done months ago? Also wasn't it sponsored by Northgate (they supplied the Van) not VW?

[Mound Dawg]

simonrockman said:

Would've been quicker if it was white.

Or in Parcelforce colours.

[bungz]

Surely a DPD driver in a old sprinter would be able to top this.

[paua]

I remember watching the episode in question - must say if I had to spend 10 minutes in the back of a van at the 'Ring, of the 2 drivers on offer, it wouldn't be JC.

[Halmyre]

Mound Dawg said:

simonrockman said:

Would've been quicker if it was white.

Or in Parcelforce colours.

But it would then get lost...

[Krikkit]

Onehp said:

220hp diesel isn't really the best one can do tuned now. German HGP will give you a VR6 3.6 biturbo with 700+ bhp in your stripped transporter, esp recalibrated too if you asked nicely, if you pay them enough...

There's a company offering armoured Sprinters with the twin-turbo V12 as well... I bet you could get them to leave the armour out and just fit it out as a fancy family bus. One of those plus a bit of Brabus love would give you 900hp/1500Nm.

[5harp3y]

bungz said:

Surely a DPD driver in a old sprinter would be able to top this.

this has the makings of a new race series

Hermes guy in his stripped out Ford Galaxy
DPD LWB Sprinter
Amazon Prime in a Renault Trafic

Points awarded for lap times, drafting down the straights and blocking the pit lane exit as they lob a parcel over the pit wall

[Shakermaker]

Onehp said:

220hp diesel isn't really the best one can do tuned now. German HGP will give you a VR6 3.6 biturbo with 700+ bhp in your stripped transporter, esp recalibrated too if you asked nicely, if you pay them enough...

Wouldn't be "standard" though, which is what this refers to

[Turbobanana]

5harp3y said:

bungz said:

Surely a DPD driver in a old sprinter would be able to top this.

this has the makings of a new race series

Hermes guy in his stripped out Ford Galaxy
DPD LWB Sprinter
Amazon Prime in a Renault Trafic

Points awarded for lap times, drafting down the straights and blocking the pit lane exit as they lob a parcel over the pit wall

For completeness, invite Royal Mail as well. Although they'd require you to pick the van up from the depot tomorrow because they'd do the lap in the middle of the working day when nobody was in

[PaulJC84]

What time did Sabine Schmitz do on TG in a Transit when trying to beat Jezza in a Jaaaaaag?

[WCZ]

why not pick a quicker van

[chris4652009]

Craikeybaby said:

I’m sure I read somewhere that Guy Martin was working on some sort of van ‘ring lap record attempt.

Yeah

[Robmarriott]

geeks said:

Wasn't this done months ago? Also wasn't it sponsored by Northgate (they supplied the Van) not VW?

Yep, the video was uploaded in January so it was recorded last year some time.

Nice new news, PH!

[anonymous-user]

I wonder why the 150 and not the 204 version?

[TooMany2cvs]

And then there's...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Pericoloso]

PaulJC84 said:

What time did Sabine Schmitz do on TG in a Transit when trying to beat Jezza in a Jaaaaaag?

It was something like 10M 9s.