The Porsche Taycan Turbo GT with the Weissach package has added another accomplishment to its already impressive resume by setting a new lap record for electric cars at the Interlagos circuit in São Paulo, Brazil.
This achievement marks the fourth time, and on the fourth continent, that Porsche has secured a lap record with its electric sports car specially engineered for the racetrack. The Taycan Turbo GT, already a record holder at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, Shanghai International Circuit, and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, continues to showcase its performance prowess.
Felipe Nasr, a three-time IMSA champion and three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona, piloted the Taycan Turbo GT to a time of 1:42.1 minutes on the 4.3-kilometer Interlagos circuit on February 5, 2025. This new lap time not only shattered the previous record of 1:49.8 minutes set by the Taycan Turbo S in 2022 but was also just under a second quicker than an earlier outright production-car lap record established by the 911 Turbo S (1:43.087 minutes).
Interlagos, known for its mix of high-speed sections, technical corners, and significant elevation changes, presented a formidable challenge. “Coming to Interlagos and getting behind the wheel of the Taycan Turbo GT right after winning the 24 Hours of Daytona was an incredible experience. I expected the strong acceleration and brutal torque but, ultimately, it was the overall performance that really impressed me,” said Felipe Nasr, Porsche works driver.
Nasr further elaborated, “On the uphill climb before ‘Curva do Café’, just before the main straight, I used Attack Mode and the car reached 272 km/h by the end of the corner. On the exit of ‘Curva do Sol’, I was already reaching more than 200 km/h coming onto the back straight. It’s amazing how brutally the car accelerates and delivers its power. The steering of the Taycan Turbo GT was very precise in the slow corners and remained stable even under heavy braking. The balance, the grip – a real performance machine.”
“Our goal was to set a new record to show the strengths of the new Taycan model series – just in time for its debut on the Brazilian market,” stated Peter Vogel, CEO of Porsche Brazil. “The outstanding performance of the Taycan Turbo GT is truly impressive.”
Beyond its record-setting capabilities, the Taycan Turbo GT has also proven its credentials in the world of motorsports. Since May 2024, it has served as the Formula E safety car, succeeding the Taycan Turbo S. Driven by Bruno Correia (Portugal), it currently holds the title of the most powerful safety car in an FIA World Championship. Two Taycan Turbo GT safety cars are utilized at Formula E races, one equipped with the Weissach Package and the other without, alternating between being the main and backup vehicles.
This record at Interlagos follows a series of impressive achievements in various circuits across the globe by the Taycan Turbo GT. Porsche development driver Lars Kern has been instrumental in setting lap records at different locations. In October 2024, he established a new fastest time of 2:11.28 minutes at the Shanghai International Circuit. Earlier in 2024, Kern achieved a record at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in California, with a time of 1:27.87 minutes, the fastest lap by a road-legal electric car. Before that, a pre-production version secured a class record at the Nürburgring, with Kern at the wheel, completing the Nordschleife in 7:07.55 minutes. This was a remarkable 26 seconds faster than his previous record drive in August 2022 in a Taycan Turbo S Sport Sedan with Performance Package.
The Taycan Turbo GT and Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach Package
Porsche has expanded its all-electric sports sedan lineup with the Taycan Turbo GT and the Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach package. The models feature a more powerful and efficient pulse inverter with silicon carbide as the semiconductor material on the rear axle. Both vehicles achieve a temporary peak power output exceeding 1,100 PS. A “push-to-pass” Attack Mode provides an additional power boost of up to 120 kW for up to 10 seconds. This system’s function is similar to that of the 99X racing cars utilized by Porsche in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
By employing intelligent lightweight construction techniques, Porsche reduced the weight of the Taycan Turbo GT by up to 75 kilograms compared to the Taycan Turbo S. The Weissach package is engineered specifically for the racetrack, does away with the rear bench seat to maximize the power-to-weight ratio. Both models include Porsche Active Ride suspension as standard, with GT-specific tuning.
