Volkswagen has presented the near-production version of the ID.R, the fully electric race car. The racing flagship of the future fully-electric product family from Volkswagen aims to set a new lap record for electric vehicles on the 20.83-km-long Nordschleife. Racing driver Romain Dumas aims to undercut the until-now best time of 6:45.90 minutes. On 25 April, the ID.R is to complete its first test on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. Virtually speaking, the ID.R will already drive its first laps from 24 April. For the first time, a race car will also be presented at the same time in a near-reality computer simulation. Enthusiasts can download this simulation free of charge.
Volkswagen has adapted the 670bhp electric drive of the ID.R to the unique track characteristics of the Nordschleife. Two lithium-ion battery blocks serve as the energy storage on board the ID.R. Volkswagen’s production development team has constructed these batteries. Their structure is comparable to the technology that is to be used in the future production vehicles from the ID. family.
“The ID.R’s mission to be the spearhead of the fully electric ID. product family from Volkswagen continues in full force,” says Sven Smeets, director, Volkswagen Motorsport. “Once again, this time in 2019, we will demonstrate the potential of electric drive. The Nürburgring-Nordschleife is the next step on the journey of the ID.R, a car that provides a symbol of the future significance of electric drive in all of motorsport at Volkswagen. To see the ID.R take to this legendary race track for the first time will be a moment guaranteed to give you goose bumps.”
The most striking feature of the evolved version of the ID.R is the aerodynamics designed for a higher top speed. “Last year, the many- cornered hill-climb track and the thin air at Pikes Peak demanded maximum downforce,” explains François-Xavier Demaison, technical director of Volkswagen Motorsport. “On the Nordschleife lap, the ID.R will reach an average speed of more than 180 kmph – with a top speed on the straights of up to 270 kmph. We have therefore developed a completely new aerodynamic package with DRS (Drag Reduction System), from Formula 1, as well as optimised the energy management. This controls the power output of the two electric motors and energy recovery under braking.”
Romain Dumas knows the Nürburgring-Nordschleife like hardly anyone else. The Frenchman has already won the famous 24-hour race four times. Nevertheless, he will treat the track with a lot of respect as he goes into the upcoming first test run. “I have already driven the Nordschleife with the ID.R on the simulator countless times. But the true feeling from the incredibly high cornering speeds you only get when you’re on the actual track. The extent to which the car has been continuously developed compared to 2018 is impressive. I can’t wait to finally drive it on the Nordschleife,” says Dumas.
But not only will Dumas have the opportunity to drive the ID.R on the Nordschleife. Racing fans can even compare themselves to the pro – virtually speaking. On the occasion of its world premiere, Volkswagen has launched an online racing simulation for the free-to-play racing simulator RaceRoom. Here, gamers can take to the 20.832-kilometre Nordschleife in the ID.R and compete with Romain Dumas. They also get the option to use virtual reality glasses. Volkswagen created the computer vehicle model based on the original car’s testing data. The engineers from Volkswagen Motorsport have given the game developers deep insights into the driving dynamics of the electric racing car, to make the driving experience as realistic as possible on a home computer. All information regarding this can be found on www.raceroom.com/volkswagen
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