This Mini Cooper is faster around the Nordschliefe than a Pagani Zonda [video]

We simply love the Nordschliefe here at Motorburn. The Nurburgring‘s legendary iteration scared the hell out of the bravest racing drivers on the planet, and challenged the very core ideals of racing. It’s also one ridiculously long, bumpy and strenuous ribbon of German tarmac.

So when a Mini Cooper (you know, that tiny little city car) breaks a front-wheel drive record at the Green Hell, a few heads are turned.

This heavily tuned Mini John Cooper Works edition lapped the Nordschliefe in 7:44 — that’s over 15km, 150 turns in less time than an Audi R8 V10 and, perhaps more embarrassingly, a Pagani Zonda S. Yes, we’re talking race-bred supercars here. It’s also a full ten seconds faster than Renault’s record-setting front-wheel drive Megane.

The Mini’s record won’t likely be recognised though — It’s a heavily modified motorcar, after all. These modifications include a 290-horsepower engine, a stripped down, lighter chassis and a limited slip differential which helps massively though the sweeps. Oh, and a set of sticky Dunlop Direzza 03G tyres keeps this thing planted in corners.

But catch this Mini in action and you’ll understand just how ridiculous this performance by car and driver really is: