SUBSCRIBE TO THE
MAGAZINE NOW
Facebook-f Instagram

Watch a Koenigsegg annihilate the production record at Spa-Francorchamps

22 July, 2015

 

The crazy team at Koenigsegg have underlined the sublime performance of their new Agera One:1 by thrashing the production lap record of Belgium’s illustrious Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Clocking in at 2min 32.14, the Koenigsegg beats its nearest rival by almost six seconds. Check out the memorable on-board video below:

This is the second time that Koenigsegg have had a crack at the Spa record, following a successful attempt in June where they managed to set a lap record of 2min 33.26s — beating the previous benchmark set by a McLaren P1 — a car New Zealand Classic Car magazine featured earlier in 2015.

What makes official Koenigsegg test driver Robert Serwanski’s lap particularly impressive is how he is forced to weave through dense traffic from start to finish. Yet despite the conditions, the One:1 manages to hit 270kph on the approach to Eau Rouge, before reaching a mind-boggling 320kph just before piling on the brakes at the bus stop.

Brand founder Christian von Koenigsegg had initially suggested that the One:1 would try and take down the lap record at Germany’s infamous Nürburgring. But after a speed ban was imposed at the facility due to safety concerns, Spa was the most logical replacement playground for the brand to set their 1341hp monster loose.

The record has been toppled just as motorsport royalty from around the world prepare for the 24 Hours of Spa, held on July 25–26. Included in that list is Kiwi V8 Supercar ace Shane van Gisbergen, as well as Australian motorsport legend Craig Lowndes.

Motorman: Blame it on Rio!

22 May, 2025

Following the third polite advisory, I figured there had to be a fair degree of substance to the warning. “If this is your first visit to Rio de Janeiro, please be careful,” came the personal hushed dialogue from the pleasant hostesses on a far from crowded Varig flight from Los Angeles to the famous Brazilian seaside city.
The previous evening I had flown into LA from Auckland en route to the 1985 international launch of the Fiat Uno Turbo. I was prepared for another long haul of just under 12 hours across Mexico, central America, Colombia, and central Brazil to that nation’s third largest city. Surprisingly the 10,500km run from Los Angeles to Rio is actually longer than the 8800km LA-London air route.
With the journey including a brief stopover in Honolulu I expected to travel just under 44,000km for the return journey to sample what was to be a low-volume version of a popular Italian car that would sell in even lower numbers in New Zealand. I like to think this shows nothing more than my deep commitment to my craft. In fact, even though I became lost on the homeward journey my total air miles would be little different.

Pinnacle Porsche

15 May, 2025

We were stopped at the side of the road, setting up the next photograph, when a faded Toyota slowed alongside and stopped. The window was already down to give the driver a good look.
“That’s my dream car,” he said, speaking for more than a few of us.
He drank in the gleaming red paint, shining in the sun, and the car’s purposeful swoops and curves. He exhaled half a lungful of cigarette smoke, gave a hang 10–style thumbs up and drove off.
On the side of the road, against a clear blue background, the Porsche stood out in all its stark red glory. It’s the classic 911 shape on steroids. It has the fat, even pouty, front lip of the G series 911s, added to comply with 5mph bumper restrictions in the US. It also has the oversized haunches to accommodate the wider rear wheels and tyres – a first for Porsche, which also confirmed its supercar credentials – and, most noticeably of all, that enormous whale-tail spoiler. They made it look as if Porsche had abandoned its restraint.