Volkswagen W12 Coupe breaks 24-hour world speed record

On 14 October a prototype of Volkswagen's W12 Coupe concept car set the world speed record for distance covered in 24 hours. On the Nardo high-speed circuit in southern Italy the 440 kW/600 bhp twelve-cylinder sports car covered 7,085.7 kilometres (4,402.8 miles) at an average speed of 295.24 km/h (183.45 mph). It thus improved on the previous record set by a Chevrolet LTS Corvette by a margin of 12 km/h (7.5 mph). At the same time the team of drivers broke two other world records in the W12 Coupe and six vehicle class speed records. The class record for 12 hours had already been broken in a trial run.

Record breaker

The aim of putting the vehicle through this gruelling 24-hour ordeal in Nardo was to analyse the performance potential and the robustness of the new twelve-cylinder engine. The "race against the clock" started at 15.58 on 13 October. The first international class record fell with apparent ease at 16.58: one hour driven at an average speed of 310.99 km/h (193.24 mph). The previous best ever speed, set in a Ferrari 550 Maranello, was 301.24 km/h (187.18 mph).

Less than 40 minutes later the second international record in FIA group A, class 2 fell to Volkswagen: never before had a car in this class been driven for an uninterrupted "500 km" (311 miles) at an average of 307.64 km/h (191.16 mph).

Shortly after sunset the third international speed record for the class was broken: "500 miles" at an average speed of 308.81 km/h (191.89 mph) on standard production Pirelli tyres.

After exactly "1,000 kilometres" Volkswagen also took the record for this distance thanks to an average speed of 311.09 km/h (193.30 mph).

The next record on the schedule for this endurance test was, according to the FIA regulations, the "1000 mile point". At around 21.00 h the team claimed this record as well, thanks to an average of 311.51 km/h (193.56 mph); the former highest speed for this had been 30 km/h (19 mph) slower.

While still maintaining an average speed of 311.58 km/h (193.61 mph), the W12 Coupe tore through the 6-hour mark at 21.58 h to notch up the sixth successive record for Volkswagen.

As the sun rose on the Sunday morning the seventh record drew closer. The driver had again been keeping his foot pressed firmly down. As a result, the W12 Coupe reached the first world record mark earlier than expected at 08.53 h: "5,000 kilometres" (3,107 miles). Meantime the speed had settled down at 295.44 km/h (183.58 mph). The previous record set in an LTS Corvette, was 282.78 km/h (175.71 mph).

As the test moved into its final hours, Rudolf-Helmut Strozyk, the responsible project manager was in confident mood: "Even after 5,000 kilometres all figures from the engine of the W12 Coupe are at the normal level."

At the 7,000-kilometre point (4 350 miles) the last 17 tense minutes of the eventful 24 hours began. The mood was like that of the final stage of a Formula 1 race: victory in sight, but right up to the last bend something could still go wrong.

After 7,085.7 kilometres (4,402.8 miles) Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Member of Volkswagen AG Board of Management, waved the flag to signal the completion of the "24-hour race" against the clock. That meant that the second world record had been broken - 24 hours at an average speed of 295.24 km/h (183.45 mph). A world record across all classes. Proof that Volkswagen's new W12-engines had passed their baptism of fire with flying colours.

But the chequered flag was accompanied by the signal for the driver to go for speed. The reason: even after 24 hours the engine was running so well, the Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Dr. Ferdinand Piëch, gave the green light for the project "Nardo 2001" to continue. The new goal: the world record over 5,000 miles (previously 279.69 km/h (173.79 mph), LTS Corvette) was now within reach. At around 19.32 h this was achieved with an average speed of 291.87 km/h (181.36 mph). The W12 had written its first chapter in the book of automotive history.

VW, Wolfsburg - October 24, 2001