Alfa Romeo Scorches The Green Hell — Leaves Porsche Gasping For Breath

Published: Saturday, September 10, 2016, 11:23 [IST]

Italian carmaker Alfa Romeo has reclaimed the lap record for four-door sedans at Germany's infamous Nurburgring race track.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio reclaimed the lap record for the Italian carmaker when it blew away the newly unveiled Porsche Panamera's lap record with a time of 7 minutes and 32 seconds. Stuttgart-based Porsche's Panamera had lapped the ring six seconds slower than the latest Italian attempt.

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Reclaims Nurburgring Record

Under the steady hands and feet of former Italian racing driver Fabio Francia, who is the test driver for Alfa Romeo and Maserati, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio set a time of 7 minutes and 32 seconds around the Nurburgring.

What makes this lap record even more interesting is the fact that Francia, in a typically Italian way wore no safety gear except for a helmet, when he lapped the Nurburgring. Francia was in fact just in his everyday clothes, a T-shirt, and jeans, when he scorched the circuit known as the Green hell.

TheAlfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio also had just one small change to the car that first claimed the record last year. They swapped the 6-speed manual for the other gearbox on offer, an 8-speed manual.

Otherwise, the car remained the same with a Ferrari developed 2.9-litre twin turbo engine that produces 503bhp and 600Nm of torque.

TheGiulia Quadrifoglio will sprint from 0–100km/h in just 3.9 seconds and has a top speed of 309km/h.