EXCLUSIVE!
It was only last year that the Mercedes-AMG GT R claimed the production car lap record at the Buddh International Circuit. Now, the GT R's time has been topped – Porsche’s 911 GT3 is now the fastest car to lap the Buddh.
Driving for Autocar India, Narain Karthikeyan – India's first F1 driver – set a lap time of 2 minutes 07.629 seconds in his very own GT3, which he took delivery of earlier this year. The fully stock GT3, with its 500hp, 4.0-litre flat-six engine, screamed its way around the Buddh, crossing 260kph on the main straight, and ended up lapping the circuit over 2.2 seconds quicker than the AMG GT R.
The GT3's 500hp, 460Nm flat-six is mated to a 7-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox, and all that power is directed at the rear wheels only. As such, Porsche claims a 0-100kph time of just 3.4 seconds for the GT3, with a top speed of 318kph. Karthikeyan’s GT3 is specced with the optional Club Sport package, which adds a roll cage, carbon-fibre bucket seats, a six-point harness and a fire extinguisher. Base price for the GT3 is Rs 2.31 crore (ex-showroom).
In a previous interaction with Autocar India, Karthikeyan had called the GT3 “the best track-oriented road car you can buy”, and with this lap record under its belt, the GT3 has certainly lived up to its billing.
Do you think the GT3's Buddh lap record will be topped anytime soon? Which car do you think could do it? Let us know in the comments.