Porsche and Autocar India set new production car lap records at BIC

Driven by Narain Karthikeyan, the 911 GT3 RS becomes the first car with a sub-2 minute lap time around the BIC.

Published On Dec 14, 2023 02:00:00 PM

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Fastest production car lap record at BIC

As the saying goes, records are meant to be broken, and that’s just what we did to our own record at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC), yet again. 1 minute 59.854 seconds – that’s the new lap record for a production car around the BIC, set by Porsche and Autocar India in a 911 GT3 RS (992 Gen), driven by none other than India’s former F1 driver Narain Karthikeyan.

Former F1 driver Narain Karthikeyan helmed the 911 GT3 RS
Lap record set of 1 min 59.845 secs around BIC
New production EV lap record set by Taycan Turbo S of 2 min 10.313 secs

We also set a new record of the fastest lap time for a production EV around the BIC – 2 minutes 10.313 seconds – in a Taycan Turbo S, also driven by Karthikeyan. Both lap times were validated by the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), the Indian motorsport body affiliated with the FIA. Having hosted both pinnacles of four-wheeler and two-wheeler motor racing with F1 and MotoGP championships, the BIC is really the most hallowed ground for speed in India.

Beating our previous BIC production car lap record

The new time of 1 minute 59.854 seconds makes the 911 GT3 RS the first car to lap the circuit in under 2 minutes. The 911 GT3 RS beat the previous record of 2 minutes 00.266 seconds, which was also set by Karthikeyan in March 2019, then driving a 911 GT2 RS (991 Gen).

A difference of 0.412 seconds may not seem much, but factor in the power and torque outputs, and it tells a whole other story. The GT2 RS used for the previous record run was powered by a 700hp, 750Nm, 3.8-litre, twin-turbo flat-six engine, making it the most powerful road-going 911 ever made. The new GT3 RS, meanwhile, is powered by a 525hp, 465Nm, 4.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six engine – that’s a considerable 175hp and 265Nm down on the GT2 RS.

So how does a car that has so much less power and torque muster a faster lap time? The answer really lies in the GT3 RS' aero wizardry, sacrificing raw power for downforce to make it faster on a track. Registering a top speed of 255.70kph, it wasn't particularly fast on the long back straight, but it was the staggering cornering speeds (a maximum of 155.53kph through the long parabola of turn 11) that helped claw back the time.

The GT3 RS is touted as the ultimate track-going 911, still with number plates, getting its speed from a strong focus on aerodynamics, which includes an F1-style rear wing with a drag reduction system (DRS) along with adjustable aerodynamics via simple-to-use controls on the steering.

“In the back section of the circuit, this car comes into its own and it must be, I guess, 20-25kph faster than the GT2 RS in the long D and the fast corners. That’s why you gain a lot of time. It’s a track weapon, fantastic to drive. I’m a big Porsche fan, they’ve done a great job with this car,” said Karthikeyan.

Incidentally, this is the third time Karthikeyan has set the fastest production car lap record at the BIC, the first having been set in N ovember 2018, in his own 911 GT3 (991.2 Gen) of 2 minutes 07.629 seconds.

New production EV lap record set at BIC

We didn’t just stop at this. We went a step further by also setting an all-new record of the fastest production EV around the BIC with a lap time of 2 minutes 10.313 seconds in the Taycan Turbo S. The Taycan Turbo S is powered by a twin electric motor setup that delivers power to all four wheels and generates 750hp with 1,050Nm of torque.

The former F1 driver sees a promising future for EVs. “I can’t believe how fast this thing accelerates. The steering is fantastic too. It’s so precise and has great feedback, which lets me accurately place the car on the track. EVs are so much more enjoyable to drive now and the fun factor in cars like this Taycan Turbo S is right up there. I think there’s a bright future for performance EVs,” said Karthikeyan on his run with the Taycan Turbo S around the BIC.

Manolito Vujicic, brand director, Porsche India said: “With the 911 GT3 RS and Taycan Turbo S, Narain Karthikeyan and Autocar India have once again showcased that Porsches are at the top of their game, irrespective of whether they are ICE models or EVs, and whether they are driven on road or track."

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358.03kph: Autocar India sets new Indian top speed record with Pininfarina Battista