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Mercedes-AMG Driver Pushes GT R Hard on Nurburgring, 7-minute Lap Time Rumored

The Mercedes-AMG GT R customer cars are already among us, so why would the German automotive producer continue to flog at least two prototypes on the Nurburgring?
Mercedes-AMG GT R on Nurburgring 8 photos
Photo: YouTube screenshot
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We're expecting the answer to involve a chronograph, as the manufacturer-owned GT Rs seen on the Nordschleife are being pushed to the limit.

"Didn't the Affalterbach supercar set a 7:10 Ring time last year?" the track addicts among you might ask. That is correct, but we'll remind you that the said stopwatch number came from independent testing, having been set by Sport Auto.

Sure, the German publication is a respected source for unofficial Ring lap times, but its times are considerably behind the official numbers, with the latest example of this coming from the magazine's 7:18 Porsche 911 GT3 lap (we'll remind you that the factory time for the 991.2 GT3 sits at 7:12.7).

We didn't mention Zuffenhausen's name by accident, as the Porsche crest and the three-pointed star are engaged in a more or less official Nurburgring battle.

While the production car record is now in the hands of McLaren partner Lanzante Motorsport (remember the P1 LM's stunning 6:43.2 lap?), this battle concerns the pair of Stuttgart neighbors.

Sure, the GT R currently holds the "title", but with the latest rumors talking about the 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS being ready to deliver a sub-7m lap, the Merc must make further efforts.

While some car nuts out there are more interested in the overall driving experience than the Ring numbers, the sheer idea that Mercedes-AMG has marketed the GT R as the Beast of the Green Hell

Interestingly, the 991.2 GT2 RS is also testing on the infamous German circuit these days (here's the most recent sighting of the rear-engined devil) and we can talk about the first battle. So you should be surprised if, one of these days, you wake up to a monstrous announcement coming from the Ring.

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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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