Porsche 911 Dakar Laps the Nurburgring But Doesn't Quite Adhere to Its Track Limits

The 'Green Hell' – aka the Nürburgring Nordschleife is famous for several interesting things. One would be the massive motorsport complex featuring a Grand Prix track but also the Northern loop that was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.

The Nordschleife is long and arduous at 20.830 km (12.943 miles) long, has more than 300 meters (over 1,000 feet) of elevation change, and was 'lovingly' nicknamed the green hell by Jackie Stewart. But these are just the dry stats. Sentimentally, this track is much beloved, feared, and revered because it allows both 'Touristenfahrten' (aka anyone who pays can access the track with their vehicle) and track days, plus ample time for automakers to torture their new models during development trials.

Usually, aside from races and automakers attempting new lap records, the public is also delighted by the skill or (total) lack thereof by various amateur drivers. And since the creation of YouTube, compilations abound with crashes and amazing feats done by anonymous heroes and villains at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. As such, it's usually an honorable point to keep your vehicle inside the track limits and not become the worldwide mockery target of motoring fans, right?

Well, the good folks over at 'sport auto' decided to change that with help from a Porsche 911 Dakar and demonstrate that sometimes crossing boundaries is okay. Of course, no one should try this at home as their test driver Christian Gebhardt and the team have ample experience regarding track lap tests and going off-road in various vehicles. Sure, maybe they didn't try one that can do both, right?

Just like the Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato, which can be trashed from the moment of taking ownership, this beautiful version of the Porsche 911 GTS can also be driven like a hoot on the Green Hell and make use of the off-road facilities at the track when something goes wrong – like (probably intentionally) missing a turn at the end of the timed lap attempt!

By the way, the team didn't just go for a Nürburgring lap with the circuit's permission – they also went for some scenic trail driving, and before the day was over, even enjoyed a German sausage on rough terrain overlooking the Nordschleife legend. Hmm, although they also took out the pop-up tent to celebrate the 7:39.40 lap time, I bet there were too many of them to enjoy a good night out in the field!