Video: Next-gen Audi RS 3 sets new class Nürburgring lap record

The new Audi RS 3 has set a new lap record for a compact class car at the world-famous Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit, completing a lap of the 20.83km venue in 7:40.748.

Piloted by Audi Sport test driver Frank Stippler, the final lap time was good enough to beat the existing class record by 4.64 seconds, set by a Renault Mégane R.S. Trophy-R in 2019.

Only minor tweaks were made to the RS 3 sedan before its record-setting lap, with the Audi team fitting a roll-cage for Stippler's protection and Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tyres to the 19-inch wheels, a factory option for future customers.

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Although it is still based on the Volkswagen Group MQB platform, which underpins other cars such as its less powerful S3 and Golf R siblings, the new RS 3 has done away with the Haldex all-wheel drive system of previous generations. Instead it has adopted the RS Torque Splitter, which is fully-variable and able to send up to 100 per cent of drive to either rear wheel.

Even though it boasts a drift mode as its party piece, the new system greatly reduces understeer and helps the car to become a more agile and capable vehicle, according to Stippler.

“In general, the new RS 3 is much more agile when driving from the middle of the curve to its end and when accelerating out of the curve,” said Stippler.

“For me, the torque splitter is a quantum leap in terms of agile driving.”

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While the lap was set in the sedan variant of the RS 3, Audi will continue to offer the pocket rocket as a five-door hatchback as well, both packing the same 2.5-litre, five-cylinder turbocharged engine under the bonnet, producing 294kW and 500Nm which allows it to achieve a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 3.8 seconds.

Audi customers can also up-spec their RS 3s to include the RS Dynamic package, which was fitted to the lap record setter – including RS sport suspension with adaptive dampers and a 290km/h top speed – as well as the optional ceramic brake package.

Australian deliveries of the next-gen RS 3 are expected to begin from the first quarter of 2022.