The Nürburgring remains one of the ultimate tests of man and machine. The Nordschleife measures 12.83 miles and features 73 corners, including some of the most challenging sections of asphalt in the world of ultimate engineering testing and development. It has it all, including cambered, off-cambered, slow, fast sweeps, and not much run-off room. It’s high stakes and high reward, but get it wrong and face massive disappointment, a red face, a serious bill to repair guardrails, and a bruised ego, second to none.
With Ford recently dispatching their track-focused Mustang GTD to the ‘ring to represent Team America, all is well in the world. The time: six minutes 52.07 seconds. Who can dethrone the Mustang GTD? My personal favorite, Porsche’s road-going 963.
Models are listed in ascending order based on their power-to-weight ratio, from the least horsepower-per-pound to the most.
2026 Porsche GT3 RS
Power-To-Weight Ratio: 0.16 HP/LB
One thing that needs to be understood, as I’ve interviewed an engineer who’s worked on Porsche’s GT4 RS project with Manthey Racing, is that the level of data they go to understand ultimate system excellence between the best components for a GT car and the relationship between a road surface and maximum grip, on a scalable level, is unrivaled. They have some of the world’s best brains, and it’s no wonder Porsche HQ just handed the GT racing program to them while putting their hands up in surrender.
Not much can be said about the potential Nürburgring performance of the new Porsche GT3 at this point, but rest assured that Porsche will make this the one to beat. What makes this even more special is that, as the naturally aspirated days of the GT3 are numbered, you can trust Porsche to sharpen up the package to be the best GT3 ever made, and if you’ve had the opportunity to drive any version, you’ll know it’s difficult to improve on “perfect,” but somehow they do.
Top 3 Rivals
2023 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
Power-To-Weight Ratio: 0.19 HP/LB
We could never complete this list without a sip of that Alfa Romeo espresso. What better way to do that than with the 33 Stradale, which, with its looks derived from the 60s and Franco Scaglione’s Tipo 33 Racer, could serve as pure art rather than get bitumen, oil, and bug stains from a “Green Hell” attempt. Don’t be fooled, though, the 33 Stradale is not just about looks.
It’s got a lot of shunting power in the form of the twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 borrowed from Maserati’s MC20, which produces 620 horsepower. While Alfa Romeo has a long history in competition, dating to the early days of sports car racing with legends like Enzo Ferrari (You’ve heard of him, right?), nowadays, they’re focused on what they do best—stirring emotive reactions and getting grown-ups to cry.
Top 3 Rivals
2024 Glickenhaus SCG 003S
Power-To-Weight Ratio: 0.26 HP/LB
There is one thing the Glickenhaus name does not shy away from: a bit of controversy. And the Glickenhaus SCG 003S is every bit the drama you’d expect it to be, taking the 24 Hours of Le Mans race version and converting it into a road car. Head honcho Jim Glickenhaus is at the helm of the brand and is every bit the ultimate charismatic leader from times gone by. That ethos and attitude are embodied in the roadgoing SCG 003S.
Given Glickenhaus’s appetite to take on the Nürburgring in the race-only version with the SCG 4C GT3, the car company has every bit of credibility to take on the ring to produce what it takes for a low lap time. Given that the SCG 003 Competizione, a proper racing car, achieved a time of six minutes 42 back in 2015, factoring in chassis improvements, development, and a “can-do” attitude, the SCG 003S is poised to put up quite the fight, even on less sticky road tires.
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2023 Ferrari SF90 XX Stradale
Power-To-Weight Ratio: 0.26 HP/LB
For those who need a refresher, any X-adorned Ferrari usually means it’s track-only, faster, and louder than the road version, which is already fast and noisy to begin with. Just the way the climatologists and we like it. But this time, XX is road legal, which is rather kind of the brand.
A hybrid power plant consisting of a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 that is paired with three electric motors and produces north of 1,000 horsepower (1,030), which is a little silly, and by that I mean good silly. There’s also an active rear wing that doubles the downforce generated by the standard SF90. All of this means that the SF90 XX Stradale is intended to go fast on any circuit.
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2020 McLaren Elva
Power-To-Weight Ratio: 0.29 HP/LB
Who doesn’t like a great British garden shed automaker throwback in a time when the money allows this type of experiment? With back-to-back F1 constructor championships under its belt, expect more of this type of project as the brand squeezes every bit of value out of the engineering achievements. We’re not mad either.
Only 149 were produced. The McLaren Elva is something that commends serious gawking with its Can-Am-inspired appearance. A wonderful time for sports cars that birthed some seriously crazy ideas that have helped make the high-performance sector what it is today. There’s the favored twin-turbo V8 powering the Elva, sending 815 horsepower to the rear wheels in a car that only weighs 2,531 pounds, offering peak visceral connectivity and a thrilling road experience sans windscreen. Given the specifications, this was made to take on the ring. Just don’t roll it.
Top 3 Rivals
2025 Porsche 963 RSP
Power-To-Weight Ratio: 0.29 HP/LB
The road-going version of the 963 Hypercar has been born, and I can assure you that if the platinum age of motorsport with the hyper class is birthing products like this, we’re living in a good time, my pedigree friends. Rejoice. Sadly, however, this is a one-of-one version for Roger Penske, who, if you didn’t know, is kinda a big deal in the motoring world and motorsport. How’s that for a not-so-subtle flex, where Porsche builds you a car?
A 4.6-liter twin-turbocharged V8 hybrid powertrain powers the 963 RSP and is very similar to the RS Spyder’s, apart from the added boost and increased capacity, and draws on Bosch and Williams’ advanced engineering. Yes, there’s flat-plane crank technology, and the RPM numbers are above 8,000. What all this amounts to is 680 horsepower in a body that weighs approximately 2,271 pounds. Nürburgring is, indeed, calling. And once more, in case you were wondering, yes, there is a cupholder, which you don’t need to include as an additional trim option.
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2022 BAC Mono R
Power-To-Weight Ratio: 0.38 HP/LB
The road-going race-rat Mono R deploys the dynamics and DNA of single-seater racing. You get light cars, and then you get a BAC Mono that takes weight analysis and reduction to an entirely new level. Not just carbon fiber, but every bit of material is an R&D obsession, culminating in the BAC Mono R weighing just 1223.5 pounds. This is enough to make you feel guilty about taking that extra bit of toast with your breakfast and not running that additional mile.
While no official Nürburghring lap record has ever been attempted, the uber-selfish one-seater British-made machine has completed a lap around the Red Bull Ring in one minute 38.9, making it the quickest production car to do so, beating out Porsche’s GT3 RS and a LeFerrari. The feat was completed in 2022, and given the opportunity, it would be a definite contender. And yes, there is a BAC Mono Cup track-only version that I’m salivating over. “Sorry, kids, you’re walking to school today—Daddy has important business to take care of.”
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Gordon Murray Automotive T.50
Power-To-Weight Ratio: 0.5 HP/LB
From a man who knows a thing or two about building fast cars and colorful shirts comes something of a magnum opus in the form of the T.50. Cosworth had a hand in the 4.0-liter V12 screamer that sits right behind your ears. A critical claim to fame is that this engine is the most power-dense naturally aspirated engine ever built.
There’s so much to be said about the T.50, but the party tricks of the massive fan that generates all the downforce in the world (3,307 pounds) ranks up there. Oh, before I forget. There’s a 12,100 redline. That is no misprint. Gordon Murray designed the McLaren F1, a gift to the motoring world. He’s done it again here. The man can do no wrong.
Top 3 Rivals
Aston Martin Valkyrie
Power-To-Weight Ratio: 0.5 HP/LB
The great mystical one. With no official Nürburgring laptime set (yet), Aston’s Valkyrie has already set its intentions known, conquering hometown glory first (priorities) and earning the fastest production car title around Silverstone in a time of one minute 56 seconds. Bear in mind that a tricked-out Manthey Racing 911 GT2 RS did a lap time of two minutes six seconds. This in itself is ridiculously quick.
Now that we may or may not have wrapped our heads around that type of disrespect, we have to give credit where credit is due. The Valkyrie is the real deal and is setting its sights on the Mercedes-AMG ONE, rather than the GTD—no disrespect to Ford here at all.
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2023 Koenigsegg Jesko Attack
Power-To-Weight Ratio: 0.87 HP/LB
There’s no need to harp on about the unique engineering marvel that is any Koenigsegg — but we’ll do it anyway. And the track intended, Jesko Attack, sets the intention straight as to just what it wants to do. Attack! “Attack” it’s doing and has done, having set the record for homologated production cars at Laguna Seca in a lap time of one minute 24.86 seconds.
A Porsche 991 GT2 RS did the circuit in a lap time of one minute 28.04 seconds, and while you may think there’s a witch hunt for the RS name badge, I can reassure you that you’d be absolutely correct in thinking that, as they’ll always be THAT benchmark to beat. They’re that good. So if you want to be serious about any lap time attempt, you should have the RS covered in the Jesko Attack.
Top 3 Rivals
Sources: Models’ manufacturer pages, Nürburgring