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We bet you’ve seen a few ‘record setting’ ‘Ring laps by now. Heck, we’ve seen more than we’ve had press cars. But while many claim speed at the ‘Green Hell’, few can actually live up to the record breaking task. Luckily, we’ve found the real deal – a Ferrari 599XX taking on the classic 20.832km Nordschleife, and breaking the symbolic seven-minute barrier in the process.
Video: A reminder of the 599XX’s terrifying speed
On 21st April 2010, the fearsome Ferrari completed a lap in just 6m 58.16s, becoming the fastest non-road legal model (derived from a production car) in the circuit’s history. Driven by Ferrari factory GT Development Driver Raffaele de Simone the 599XX made 730PS and weighed 1,345kg in its record-setting configuration.
Inspired by the then-new 599 GTO and powered by an uprated version of the 599 GTB Fiorano’s V12 engine, the 599XX was a lab guinea-pig with which Ferrari pushed its own technological boundaries, and the second car to join the Ferrari ‘XX’ programme. Not approved for competition racing, and in that way not too dissimilar from the Pagani Zonda R, it featured innovative components, including F1-derived wheel doughnuts (look it up – it’s a real thing) to improve brake cooling and aerodynamic efficiency, plus the ‘High Performance Dynamic Concept system’, designed to optimise management of the mechanical set-up and electronic controls for enhanced responsiveness. Meanwhile, the aerodynamic Actiflow System made its Ferrari debut, working to increase the vertical load (up to 630kg at 186mph) and reduce drag.
In short, the 599XX was a monster, and this lap was monstrous.
Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a mid-morning helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the last video: Two minutes straight of FOS burnouts
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