The Renault Megane RS Trophy -R has been dethroned.
The Nurburgring is still the best track to set new lap records when a new performance car arrives. This is exactly what Audi did for the RS3. The Four Rings set a new lap record in the compact category using the five-cylinder sedan model. It took 7 minutes and 40.748 seconds.
The camouflaged car is a result of the record-breaking attempt to break the speed record in June. This was a month before the official unveiling of the RS3 without the Audi Sport wrap showing the firing order for the five cylinders. Frank Stippler, Audi Sport Racing and Development driver, was behind the wheel of this small super sedan. He managed to beat the previous record by 4.64 seconds.
To clarify, Audi refers to the entire 12.9-mile (20.8 km) track layout. Renault’s front-wheel-drive Megane RS Trophy – R held the previous record. It lapped the track in 7 minutes, 45.389 seconds. This is why the Ingolstadt folks mentioned the 4.64 second improvement.
The optional Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R semislicks were available for the RS3 Sedan. These had a tire pressure that was suitable for speeding around the Green Hell. When trying to set a lap record, the body-hugging front seats or roll cage in the rear are the ones that almost all automakers use. There are also a lot of cameras outside and inside for all the action.
Frank Stippler puts the 2.5-liter TFSI motor to work. This inline-five produces 394 horsepower (294 kilowatts in the Euro version) and a slightly stronger 401 hp (US-spec RS3). Audi Sport’s compact RS is fast around the Nordschleife with its 369 pound-feet (599 Newton-meters) torque-vectoring Quattro All-Wheel Drive.
The RS3 can reach speeds of 62 mph (100 km/h), and tops out at 155 mph (253 km/h) when in its standard form. Audi’s optional performance package will allow it to reach a maximum speed of 180 mph (290 km/h).
It is already available in Europe, where Audi charges EUR60,000 for the RS3 Sportback and EUR2,000 for its RS3 Sedan home in Germany.