Volkswagen adds DRS for Nurburgring record attempt
Volkswagen will give its I.D. R electric prototype a Formula 1-style Drag Reduction System for its electric lap record attempt at the Nurburgring Nordschleife this summer.

VW announced its intention in January to challenge the benchmark set by Peter Dumbreck and the NIO EP9 electric supercar, off the back of Romain Dumas' record-shattering Pikes Peak hillclimb run last year.
Frenchman Dumas will again be at the wheel this time around, but the I.D. R itself will undergo a number of modifications to suit the challenge posed by the fearsome 20.8km (12.9mi) Nordschleife.
The addition of DRS is chief among these, along with a revised floor, front spoiler and rear wing, which will be "much lower" than the version used at Pikes Peak in a bid to reduce drag.
“Though almost identical in length at roughly 20 kilometres, the Nordschleife presents a completely different challenge for aerodynamics in comparison to the hill climb at Pikes Peak,” said Volkswagen Motorsport technical director Francois-Xavier Demaison.
“In the USA it was all about maximum downforce, but because the speeds are a lot higher on the Nordschleife, the most efficient possible battery use is of much greater importance with regard to the aerodynamic configuration.”
VW says that the I.D. R's DRS will reduce its downforce by as much as 20 percent, reducing the strain placed on the battery for the record attempt.
The German marque has been conducting wind tunnel testing to hone its aerodynamics, using 3D printing techniques to simulate different body variants.
An exact date for the record attempt has yet to be confirmed, with VW having only said upon its January announcement that it will take place at some point in the summer.
Sister brand Porsche set a new outright lap record at the Nordschleife last year with its 919 Hybrid Evo, which shattered Stefan Bellof's long-standing benchmark in the hands of two-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Timo Bernhard.

Previous article
Pope Francis to be presented with Senna sculpture
Next article
SRO pledges €50,000 to Notre-Dame reconstruction

About this article
Series | General |
Teams | Volkswagen Motorsport |
Author | Jamie Klein |
Volkswagen adds DRS for Nurburgring record attempt
Trending
LEGO Ferrari 488 GTE
French Motorsport: the Stuff of Legend
Racing Files Season 2 Trailer
The real-life racing rogues stranger than fiction
The forthcoming Netflix film linking the world of underworld crime and motorsport plays on a theme that isn't exactly new. Over the years, several shady figures have attempted to make it in racing before their dubious dealings caught up with them.
The cherished curios kept by motorsport's professionals at home
Keeping trophies and momentos of key triumphs is par for the course for motorsport professionals, but what are the most cherished souvenirs picked up by the drivers and engineers who have seen and done it all?
Why motorsport should consider a mid-week future
International motorsport has been the preserve of weekends, but the pandemic forced Formula E to get creative with its Berlin season finale as four races were held mid-week. Should FE and other series break with tradition and repeat the experiment?
How pragmatic principles made Ron Tauranac a design legend
Jack Brabham's 1966 world championship campaign in his eponymous car was also a defining moment in the career of designer Ron Tauranac, who would apply the same ethos to his ultra-successful production racing car business, Ralt.
The ingrained failure motorsport must fix to avoid 'turf wars'
OPINION: The FIA has warned that the major motorsport championships must not get engaged in 'turf wars' when it comes to the urgent need to re-organising the 2020 calendars, but there are tedious past problems that must be addressed to satisfy all.
The tech changes that could seal a Nordschleife record
Volkswagen's I.D. R smashed the Pikes Peak record and now its attention has been turned to Nurburgring Nordschleife. The ultimate benchmark there may appear far out of reach, but technical changes to the car have made a new electric record possible
The story of motorsport's single biggest safety advance
Today, the HANS device is commonplace in motorsport, but it wasn't initially greeted with open arms. This is the story of a major safety breakthrough and the man whose invention has saved countless lives.
Motorsport's greatest imposters
There are many tightly enforced rules in motorsport – some complex, some simple, but there have been a few extraordinary instances of teams and drivers bending the rules and getting away with it