Nardò Ring

Description

The track is circular, 12.5 km long, with four lanes for cars and motorcycles totaling 16 m in width and a separate inner ring for trucks 9 m wide. In the car and motorcycle ring, the lanes are banked so that a driver in the outermost lane does not need to turn the steering wheel at speeds up to 240 km/h; this is called the neutral speed, which differs per lane: lane 1 at 100 km/h, lane 2 at 140 km/h, lane 3 at 190 km/h, and lane 4 at 240 km/h. At neutral speed, the centripetal force is provided by the angled ground reaction force. Vehicles exceeding the neutral speed still require steering input; for instance, the Koenigsegg CCR set a production car speed record on the ring with the steering wheel at a 30° angle.

Fighting the turn at speeds above neutral reduces potential top speed compared to a straight line. Even at neutral speed, banking increases rolling resistance. During regular weekly activity, the maximum allowed speed on the circular track is 240 km/h; higher speeds are permitted only when a client has exclusive use. The truck ring has a neutral speed between 80 km/h and 140 km/h across its width.

The facility also includes a 6.222 km handling circuit inside the circular track, featuring a long main straight and sixteen curves of varying radius and lateral slope, used for durability, reliability, vehicle dynamics, and tire tests. The track was featured in British TV series Top Gear in 1992, showing footage of the Jaguar XJ220 driven by Martin Brundle on a top speed test. It was again featured in the series 18 opener of the 2002 reboot format of Top Gear, when Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May drove a Lamborghini Aventador, a Noble M600 and a McLaren MP4-12C to see who could reach the highest speed. The rough surface of the track figured prominently in that episode, and it was resurfaced in 2018.

Records set on the Nardò Ring

A board near the track entrance lists world records set on the ring. On 13 May 1979, a 125cc Honda set a 24-hour average speed world record of 137.866 km/h. On 5 May 1979, the Mercedes-Benz C111-IV reached 403.978 km/h, establishing the Italian speed record and completing a full lap in 1 minute 57 seconds. In 1980, the Volkswagen ARVW set a diesel car speed record of 362.07 km/h.

On 7 November 1982, a Porsche 928 S set a 24-hour speed record covering 6,033 km at an average 251.4 km/h. On 28 November 1982, an Alfa Romeo Giulietta set a 50,000 km average speed record of 175.628 km/h. Between 17 and 21 August 1983, three Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 cars set endurance records for 25,000 km, 25,000 miles, and 50,000 km, the latter at an average 247.94 km/h.

On 14 September 1986, the Elf R prototype motorcycle set six world records including an average 243.572 km/h over 10 km and a top speed of 321 km/h. On 4 April 1988, an Audi 200 quattro set world records on 500 miles at 324.509 km/h and on 1000 km at 326.403 km/h. On 29 August 1993, a Honda NR 750cc ridden by Loris Capirossi set a top speed record of 304.032 km/h. In 1993 a Porsche 928 GTS covered 6377.25 km in 24 hours at an average speed of 265.72 km/h.

On 2 June 1994, the Violent Violet electric motorcycle driven by Max Biaggi set five electric motorcycle speed records. On 2 July 1994, a Bugatti EB110GT set a methane-powered car speed record of 344.7 km/h. In 1994, the Bertone Z.E.R. set an electric car record on 1 km at 303.977 km/h.

On 27 August 1995, an Aprilia 250cc set a kilometre launched record at 254.021 km/h. On 3 June 2000, a Suzuki GSX 1300R set a world speed record on the running kilometre at 306.598 km/h. On 16 February 2002, a production Lamborghini Murciélago set average speed records over 1 hour at 305.041 km/h and over 100 miles at 320.254 km/h. On 23 February 2002, a Volkswagen W12 (also known as Volkswagen Nardò) took the world record for all speed classes over 24 hours covering 7,740.576 km at an average 322.891 km/h.

In 2004, the Eliica electric concept car reached 370 km/h. On 28 February 2005, a Koenigsegg CCR driven by Loris Bicocchi set the speed record for a production car at 388 km/h. On 25 May 2008, a Mercedes-Benz Truck Actros BlueTec III set an efficiency record for a 40-tonne truck with average consumption of 19.44 L/100km over 12,728 km.

On 18 August 2019, a pre-series Porsche Taycan covered 3425 km in 24 hours. On 9 June 2023, a Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200 GT driven by Iván Cervantes covered 4,012.53 km in 24 hours. On 7 April 2024, a pre-series Mercedes-Benz CLA covered 3717 km in 24 hours. In August 2025, two battery electric Mercedes Concept AMG GT XX set 25 world records after covering 24,901 mi in under 8 days.

Loris Bicocchi accident in the Bugatti Veyron prototype

During a secret speed test of a Bugatti Veyron prototype driven by Loris Bicocchi, a wheel exploded, carrying the fender with it. The fender raised the front hood, which collapsed and smashed the windshield, causing the car to lose control and hit the guardrail at 398 km/h. Despite brake failure, Bicocchi slowed the car by scraping along the guardrail and escaped with minor injuries. The Nardò Technical Center invoiced him for 1800 metres of damaged guardrail, and Bugatti covered the cost.

Did You Know?

• The Nardò Ring was originally built in 1975 as Fiat's test track and was acquired by Porsche Engineering in 2012.
• The Koenigsegg CCR set a production car speed record of 388 km/h on the ring in 2005, with the steering wheel at a 30° angle.