Video: BAC Mono R sets new production car lap record at Red Bull Ring, Austria

October 20, 2021 by BAC

The limited-edition BAC Mono R supercar has scooped yet another high-profile production car lap record, having hit the top of the leaderboard at the famous Red Bull Ring, Austria, as part of the Pirelli P Zero Experience.

With British racing driver Adam Christodoulou in the cockpit, R averaged a remarkable 122mph to lap the 2.7-mile circuit in just 1:32.96 – setting an astonishing new bar by almost six seconds.

The Red Bull Ring production car lap record was previously held by the Ferrari LaFerrai with German racing driver Hubert Haupt at the wheel, posting an impressive 1:38.95.

R's performance is made even more phenomenal by the Austrian Grand Prix track being very much a power circuit, with frequent elevation changes and higher altitudes acting against the naturally aspirated supercar.

However, the 343bhp, 555kg R more than lived up to its billing as the ultimate driver's vehicle and race car for the road with its record lap coming on road-legal Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tyres.

R was on location at the Red Bull Ring as part of the Pirelli P Zero Experience Central Europe, as supercar enthusiasts from across the region gathered to enjoy an unforgettable track and social experience.

Ian Briggs, BAC Co-Founder and Design Director, said: 'Another event, another lap record for Mono R – we're absolutely delighted to be at the top of the leaderboard at such a stunning and iconic circuit. Back in the early stages of developing the car we said that no record is safe worldwide, and that's certainly proving the case. R is an incredible machine and we cannot wait for the next giant to fall. Special thanks to our tyre partner Pirelli for their excellent hospitality in Austria and giving us a chance to go for the record.'

BAC is back in mainland Europe with the Mono R supercar for the P Zero Experience Germany at Hockenheim on 14th October.

Key Statistics

Top Speed: 170mph

0-60mph: 2.5 seconds

Power: 343bhp

Weight: 555kg

Power-to-Weight ratio: 618bhp-per-tonne

Specific Output: 137bhp per litre

Price: from £190,950

Mono R serves as The New Reference – the very pinnacle of design, innovation and engineering. It sports a stunning new generation of Mono DNA, features revolutionary new materials and technology and offers world-beating performance on the road and track.

R is 38bhp more powerful and 25kg lighter than the standard Mono, at 343bhp and 555kg – equating to a truly remarkable power-to-weight ratio of 618bhp-per-tonne.

Although still undeniably Mono, the R sports a stunning new generation of the single-seater's design DNA. A brand new approach to body engineering has seen all surfaces designed from scratch and 44 bespoke carbon parts restyled to give the car a more aggressive, organic and futuristic stance.

The striking new look of Mono R is defined by the imposing shark nose front, which epitomises true efficiency of form courtesy of a sleek and homogeneous redesign. Main beam LED headlights centrally mounted on the nose are a distinguishing feature that reduce the frontal area and contribute to a more minimalist appearance.

Mono R's sleeker and tighter appearance has been achieved by reductions in visible mass across the full body; plus there's been a 20mm reduction in overall height and a 25mm increase in length over the standard Mono.

Having set The New Reference for design, BAC's talented engineers have ensured Mono R breaks new ground with its engine, too. Co-developed with long-standing engine partner Mountune, the Mono's 2.5-litre, four-cylinder unit has increased in power by 38bhp to deliver an astonishing 343bhp.

BAC and Mountune left no stone unturned when it came to meeting power targets: increasing the cylinder bore size and reducing new billet crankshaft stroke to optimise power and torque delivery and increase rpm from 7,800rpm to 8,800rpm.

The striking new Formula-inspired ram-air inlet system provides pressurised air into an all-new throttle body and cylinder head system to further increase power, plus a higher-spec, drive-by-wire motor allows for a quicker throttle response.

As a result, the bespoke Mountune engine now offers 138bhp per litre – a new naturally aspirated global record for a road-legal model.

Mono R is the first production car in the world fully incorporating the use of graphene-enhanced carbon fibre in every body panel. Using the revolutionary material enhances the structural properties of the fibre to make panels stronger and lighter with improved mechanical and thermal performance.

The brand's latest world first comes as a result of a successful APC-funded Research & Development project into the production-readiness of graphene. Working alongside Haydale and Pentaxia through the Niche Vehicle Network (NVN), BAC is now launching the advantages into series production.

Mono R is one of the most exclusive supercars ever made, with a total of just 30 models being produced and sold to existing Mono customers around the globe.

Useful links:

Instagram: @DiscoverMono

Twitter: @DiscoverMono

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DiscoverMono

YouTube: www.youtube.com/DiscoverMono

Website: www.bac-mono.com

Photo credit: BAC
posted on conceptcarz.com