Pirelli tires helped set new Nürburgring records
Starting from 2019, Pirelli has helped set an average of more than one lap record per year on the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife. Records were set on a wide range of vehicles, from electric supercars to crossovers and compact hatchbacks, and the Italian brand's tires helped improve lap times each time.
In fact, all Pirelli tires from the P Zero line, except for the latest novelties, have a lap record on the Nordschleife in their "resume", set over the past five years. For example, P Zero Trofeo R tires were on the record-breaking Audi RS 3 and RS Q8 in 2024; P Zero Trofeo RS - on the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT in 2023; P Zero Corsa on the Porsche Taycan Turbo S in 2022 and on the Cayenne Turbo GT in 2021; and P Zero on the Audi RS Q8 in 2019.
The last two records were set this year on the Audi RS 3 and Audi RS Q8 performance, which were equipped with P Zero Trofeo R semi-slicks for track use and P Zero UHP road tires, which car manufacturers most often choose to equip their top models.
The Audi RS 3 completed the lap in 7 minutes 33.123 seconds, improving the record for compact cars by more than five seconds, while the RS Q8 performance became the fastest serial crossover on the German track with a time of 7 minutes 36.698 seconds (-2 seconds compared to the previous record). These same models had previously set records in their classes on the same Pirelli tires.
The Nürburgring Nordschleife is considered one of the most difficult tracks in the world and a key testing ground for Pirelli, which tests its latest developments and sports car tires on the track, including with German car manufacturers. An example of such work is the P Zero Trofeo RS for the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT, which has become the most sporting tire in Pirelli's current lineup, and in a specially developed version for the electric sports car, it is made using the Eelct technology package, which allows tires to improve the operational characteristics of electric and hybrid vehicles. On the Nürburgring, the Taycan Turbo GT showed a time of 7 minutes 7.55 seconds, receiving the title of the fastest serial electric car, while the previous record in this class was set by the Taycan Turbo S, equipped with Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires.
P Zero Corsa tires also helped the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT set a record in the crossover category, and they were also on the electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, which showed a very good time of 7 minutes 46.59 seconds.