Porsche is flat out obsessed with lap records lately. The company owns the outright record at the Nurburgring Nordschleife, as well as the production car record (Technically Manthey Racing, but it’s a Porsche), and has nabbed production car records with the GT2 RS at Laguna Seca and Willow Springs as well. The German sports car maker tapped driving talent Randy Pobst to help them set another lap record at Road Atlanta, just an hour or so from Porsche Cars North America’s Atlanta headquarters. The outing was a success, as Pobst set a blistering 1:24.88 lap.
While Dodge owned the record previously with the 645-horsepower Viper ACR’s 1:26.54 lap in 2015, Mr. Pobst broke that record just last year with Chevrolet’s mega 755-horsepower Corvette ZR1 when he posted a time of 1:26.45, a minuscule improvement. For Porsche to break that standing record by more than 1.5 seconds is mind boggling. To do it with fewer horsepower proves just what a great chassis and grip level the GT2 RS can provide.
Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America:
“We are thrilled to set the production car lap record at this iconic track located just 60 miles from our U.S. headquarters in Atlanta – a track that holds so many great memories for Porsche, such as the overall victory with the 911 RSR at Petit Le Mans in 2015.”David Donohue:
“It was an incredible experience. The traction coming out of a corner, the tireless brakes, the grip generated by the downforce and the tires, and of course the tremendous power made it possible. The 911 GT2 RS is not just very capable, but also very approachable.Randy Pobst:
“Even for a professional driver, huge power can be intimidating. But when I drive the GT2 RS, the massive torque feels completely under my control, so useable, because the car is extremely well-balanced. It is very confidence inspiring, a pleasure.”
And if that wasn’t enough, Porsche wanted to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the company can produce a massively competent chassis. The team also sent out a 2019 911 GT3 RS with *just* 520 horsepower, and it also managed to beat the Corvette’s lap time, despite a 235 horsepower disadvantage. The GT3 RS set an impressive 1:26.24 lap. Both cars used Michelin’s brand new Pilot Sport Cup 2 R N0 tires.