The rumors were true. The new 911 GT3 RS just ran a bonkers 6:56.4 at the Nurburgring Nordschliefe with factory driver Kevin Estre at the wheel, beating the mighty 918 Spyder. For additional context, that's 24 seconds quicker than the previous GT3 RS and over 16 seconds quicker than the new GT3. That also makes the GT3 RS the third quickest road car to ever lap the Nordschleife, behind just the Lamborghini Huracan Performante and the 911 GT2 RS.

This time is also way quicker than anyone at Porsche expected. When we first saw the GT3 RS earlier this year, development chief Andreas Prueninger told us it'd probably lap the 'Ring around 10-15 seconds quicker than its predecessor. He didn't expect a sub-7:00 run.

But per a Porsche press release, Estre and factory development driver Lars Kern ran four sub-7:00 laps on the day of testing.

That's crazy when you realize that the new GT3 RS only has 20 more horsepower than its predecessor. You can credit those extra 24 seconds to significant chassis upgrades, including much stiffer springs with helper springs, and new solid mountings on both the front and rear subframes. A new Weissach Package also brings optional magnesium wheels, which surely help too. Those wheels wrapped in a new, stickier version of Michelin's Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, the Pilot Sport Cup 2 R.

And lots of credit has to go to Estre—track conditions were ideal, and he was on it. Just watch the amazing video below.

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