In an unexpected twist at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC), amateur driver Sid Desai has shattered the lap record, clocking in at a blistering 1:59.612. Desai, maneuvering a 991 Porsche 911 GT2 RS, outpaced the previous record of 1:59.854 held by former F1 ace Narain Karthikeyan in a newer 992 Porsche 911 GT3 RS. This astonishing achievement, ratified by the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), has sent ripples through the racing community.
The event, organized by Speedfest, witnessed a David-versus-Goliath moment as Desai, without the backing of official Porsche support like Karthikeyan, took the reins of the German powerhouse – the Porsche 911 GT2 RS. This beast of a machine, based on the 911 Turbo, comes equipped with a twin-turbocharged engine and boasts significant upgrades over its brethren. The GT2 RS, renowned for being the priciest and fastest in the 911 lineup, benefits from engine enhancements, large brakes, and a more rigid suspension calibration.
Not just a speed demon, the 991 GT2 RS also focuses on weight reduction. By adopting rear-wheel drive and shedding several interior components, it achieves a significant weight advantage. Powered by a 3.8 L twin-turbocharged flat-6 engine, it delivers a staggering 691 hp and 750 N⋅m of torque. The car’s 7-speed PDK transmission is a necessity to manage this raw power. Porsche’s claims of a 2.7-second sprint from 0–97 km/h and a top speed of 340 km/h were not just paper figures, as Desai demonstrated on the track.
This record-breaking machine is as much about finesse as it is about power. Featuring a magnesium roof, carbon-fibre components, polycarbonate windows, and a titanium exhaust system, the GT2 RS is a marvel of automotive engineering. With a wet weight of just 1,470 kg, it’s no wonder that Desai was able to make motorsport history, rewriting the record books and proving that with the right car and a dash of talent, anything is possible on the racetrack.
