What do you expect from the worlds most famous, most successful and most established Formula One team, fast cars of course. Very fast cars. So with the Nurburgring being the benchmark where the world’s supercar makers set their time, Ferrari took the trip to Germany with one aim only, to prove how fast the 599XX actually is.
So while the rest of the world sets other cars as the benchmark and glorifies the fact that they are faster than another maker, Ferrari goes and blows them all away and takes the top spot of worlds fastest production-derived sports car and according to the Italians, this is the first time a production-derived sports car has broken the seven-minute barrier with a time of 6m 58.16s. Great stuff except that its arguable.
Back in 2005, the Radical SR8 had a confirmed time of 6m 55s, followed up by the Radical SR8LM last year which completed the track in 6m 48s. Naturally, Ferrari will dispute that the Radical is not a “production-derived sports car.” But whatever it is, the 599XX’s time is still a great accomplishment but what I want to know is, who’s the driver, that blue helmet is very familiar.
The Ferrari 599XX sets a new record on the legendary Nürburgring
Maranello, 23 April – The Ferrari 599XX is the first ever production-derived sports car to break the 7-minute barrier on the classic 20.832 km Nordschleife circuit, lapping in 6 min 58.16 sec.
The 599XX, which inspired the 599 GTO, is an extreme berlinetta designed for track but not official competition use, and is a veritable technological laboratory incorporating a number of innovative solutions. Some of these will remain the exclusive preserve of the 599XX while others have already filtered down to the 599 GTO, introduced today at the Beijing Motor Show. These include the wheel doughnuts of F1 derivation which serve two purposes – to reduce turbulence and thus drag, and improve brake cooling.
Powered by a development of the V12 engine used by the 599 GTB Fiorano, the 599XX features Ferrari’s High-Performance Dynamic Concept, a novel integrated design and chassis set-up that uses sophisticated electronics to govern the mechanical limits of the handling for maximum performance.
On the aerodynamics front, the car sees the introduction for the first time of the ActiflowTM System that increases downforce and/or cuts drag depending on the car’s trim during cornering. This, together with other careful detailing, ensures that the 599XX boasts extraordinary levels of downforce – up to 630 kg at 300 km/h.
Fundamental to the performance of the car was the development of specific components undertaken together with our technical partners: Brembo for the carbon-ceramic brakes, Michelin for the tyres and Shell for the fuel and lubricants
