Video: Audi Sport RS 3 Prototype Beats the M2’s Compact Car Lap Record on the Green Hell

Let’s face it – with a serious image of a brand preoccupied with technology rather than looks, Audi can be a little bland and tedious from time to time. Not the upcoming Audi RS 3 sedan, though, which is a veritable track weapon in the hands of someone capable of taming the infamous Green Hell like Frank Stippler.

Up for a refresh, the Audi Sport RS 3 sedan and Frank Stippler have set a new lap record on the Nürburgring Nordschleife track, with the Audi Sport racing and development driver clocking in an impressive time of 7:33.123 minutes. This means the RS 3 is the current record holder in its class after it beat the current fastest lap time – set by Jorg Weidinger in the BMW M2 less than a year ago at 7 minutes and 38.71 seconds – by more than five seconds.

Apparently, the secret is easy to reveal – the optimized chassis setup allowed for “higher cornering speeds (that) proved key to success.” Only Audi could have broken down something exciting into a few laconic words, right? Anyway, Frank Stippler further explained: “The new RS 31 turns in more willingly at corner entry thanks to fine-tuning – including brake torque vectoring – which allows the vehicle to be positioned earlier and better for corner exit from the apex, at the latest. The result is a lower steering angle from apex to corner exit, which leads to less friction and earlier acceleration, allowing you to carry more momentum and speed onto each subsequent straight.”

More precisely, the RS 3 has a torque splitter for fully variable torque distribution between the rear wheels, a wheel-selective torque control (brake torque vectoring) system, and an RS sports suspension with optional adaptive dampers. Additionally, there’s a new modular vehicle dynamics controller that now “connects the data from all components relevant to lateral dynamics with even greater sensitivity thanks to an enhanced algorithm.”

Under the hood, on the other hand, the upcoming Audi RS 3 sedan has the same five-cylinder engine packing 400 ps (395 hp) and 500 nm (369 lb-ft) of torque in Europe (the American version has 401 horsepower). The pre-production prototype used for the record-breaking attempt was fitted with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R semi-slick tires, a 19-inch ceramic brake system, the RS sports suspension with adaptive damper control, and the newly optimized chassis setup.

The refreshed four-door pocket rocket also had a funky camouflage livery created specifically for the record feat, and while it wasn’t presented officially on the German track, it won’t be long before we get to see its design because the model will become available to order before the end of summer in late August and will reach (Old Continent) dealerships starting with the fall season in October.