Michelin-shod Mercedes-AMG achieves Nordschleife lap record

Six minutes, 48.047 seconds. This is the new record lap time for a series production car around the 20.832-kilometre Nürburgring Nordschleife loop. The car was a 730hp Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, the tyres Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R.

There are in fact two types of Pilot Sport Cup 2 R, and Mercedes chose the softer compound version for Nordschleife duties. This is the original equipment ‘MO1A’ tyre that the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series wears in sizes 285/35 ZR 20 (front) and 335/30 ZR 20 (rear). Road legal in Europe and the USA, the soft version is also suitable for track use. A harder compound ‘MO2’ tyre is available as a retrofitting option through AMG Performance and provides additional cornering stability during high-speed track laps at higher temperatures.

Drawing on GT racing experience

Michelin’s engineers “worked tirelessly” alongside Mercedes technicians for several months to “ensure that the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series could reach its full potential.” The demands placed on the tyres and the performance levels Mercedes-AMG was seeking meant that Michelin’s developers had to study model-specific solutions.

Using the standard Pilot Sport Cup 2 R as a base for their development, the engineers gradually redesigned its architecture. By introducing made-to-measure technical solutions, they were able to reinforce lateral rigidity, which is key to body stability for high-performance vehicles. Michelin says the resulting tyre is “ideally suited” to the rigorous demands of the new Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series.

After signing off the tyre architecture, Michelin’s engineers turned their attention to the choice of rubber compounds, borrowing solutions already used by Michelin on the track. The tyre maker drew upon its extensive expertise in racing tyres for GT cars, such as involvement in the FIA World Endurance Championship and Le Mans 24 Hours, IMSA WeatherTech in the United States, SuperGT in Japan and a wide range of GT3-category races.

The ‘soft’ version of the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R is fitted as original equipment (Photo: Mercedes-Benz)

Options for Engel’s lap

GT3 racer Mario Engel piloted the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series on its record-breaking 6:48.047-minute lap. The 537 kW car benefits from sophisticated aerodynamics and extensive suspension adjustment options. For example, the front splitter made of visible carbon fibre was extended to the ‘Race’ position, and the lower and upper wing blades of the rear spoiler were each adjusted in the middle position.

The adjustable AMG coilover suspension with adaptive adjustment damping was lowered by five millimetres at the front and three millimetres at the rear to further enhance the venturi effect of the front diffuser. The camber was adjusted to the maximum possible values of negative 3.8 degrees at the front axle and negative 3.0 degrees at the rear. In the case of the adjustable anti-roll bars, racing professional Engel opted for the hardest of the three possible settings, and he adjusted the nine-stage AMG traction control between positions six and seven -depending on the section of the track.