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2014 SEAT Leon Cupra R Targets New FWD Nurburgring Record

It’s a Nurburgring fast lap showdown this year, isn’t it? Only yesterday, Alfa Romeo announced a blistering 8:04 time, making it quicker than a ‘09 BMW M3 despite only having 240 hp.
2014 SEAT Leon Cupra R 1 photo
Photo: screenshot from Youtube
McLaren is also currently busily re-developing the P1 to top Porsche’s 918 Spyder, which is now the third faster car with 6:57. Nissan is also busily preparing the GT-R Nismo, which should set a 7:10 or so.

Where does Spanish carmaker SEAT fit in all of this? Well, they’ve recently closed the Nurburgring to set a fast lap with the new *Leon Cupra R,, reportedly going after the FWD lap record.

At least that’s what the MonsterChannel24, who filmed the clip, says. We thought the Cupra R was supposed to have AWD in order to handle the 300 hp needed to top the 265 hp of the normal Cupra.

That AWD+300hp powertrain would be the same as the new Golf R, which just set an 8:14 time around the track. The FWD record for a production car belongs to the Megane RS 265 Trophy, which set a time of 8:07.97 back in 2011, even faster than the more powerful 2013 Golf model.

Which time is SEAT really going for? Well just have to wait and see, but the prototype does appear to be FWD. We’re very excited though, since no SEAT has set fast lap record at the Nordshleife yet.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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