Sonoma Speed Fest: VW Wants the Record

Photocredit: Volkswagen

Last year, Mercedes set a lap record at Sonoma Raceway in the F1 W07 Chassis during the inaugural Sonoma Speed Festival with an unofficial record time of 1 minute 15.430 seconds. Our coverage from last year’s event is here.

Sonoma Speed Festival returns this year from May 28th through May 31st and the first big news of the event has emerged. Volkswagen, not to be outdone by their German counterparts intend to break the Mercedes record with the electric Volkswagen ID.R. The ID.R has already set the outright record at Pikes Peak, the unofficial record at Goodwood Festival of Speed and the fasted electric lap at the Nurburgring.

"Last year we watched the Sonoma Raceway track record topple during the inaugural Sonoma Speed Festival," said Jeff O'Neill, founder of Sonoma Speed Festival. "We are excited to see that record challenged yet again in 2020, this time by Volkswagen. The ID.R represents the future of motorsports and we are thrilled to share a glimpse of what is to come with our guests."

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"After setting the overall record at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 2018, we are looking forward to returning to North America to launch a new record attempt with the fully electric powered ID.R.," said Sven Smeets, Volkswagen Motorsport Director. "The Sonoma Speed Festival at Sonoma Raceway provides a serious motorsport challenge. We are seeking to beat the lap record set by a Formula 1 car and underline the potential of electric drive."

For more information on Sonoma Speed Festival or to purchase tickets click here.