The NIO EP9’s reign as the fastest production car in the Nurburgring is over. You might even say that it ended before it even began because in just a matter of weeks, the EP9 went from record-holder to runner-up. All thanks to Lanzante Motorsport and a tweaked version of the McLaren P1 LM. Yep, the super exclusive, track-prepped hypercar is now the new King of the ‘Ring after posting a lap time of 6:43.2, beating out the EP9’s reported time of 6:45.9 by almost three seconds. If that doesn’t sound impressive enough on its own merit, consider then that the same P1 LM left the track after posting the record lap time and drove all the way back to the United Kingdom like the boss that it is.

Proof of the hypercar’s blistering run around the Nordschleife can even be seen in its entirety courtesy of a video prepared by McLaren. If there was ever any shroud of doubt about the legitimacy of the lap time, this video should serve as proof that the P1 LM’s record lap time was all real. It’s not that hard to imagine the car taking the record for itself. After all, it is powered by a bigger 4.0-liter, bi-turbo V-8 engine -- the “regular” P1 only has a 3.8-liter mill - that works in concert with an electric motor to produce a combined 1,000 horsepower. It’s also 132 pounds lighter than the P1 GTR, making it far more agile in the kind of racing environment the Nurburgring provides. So there you have it, folks. The McLaren P1 LM now reigns supreme at the Nurburgring, at least until another car beats its lap time.

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Is there some controversy attached to this new Nurburgring lap record?

You can probably say that there is based on past history. The Nurburgring lap record is sacred to a lot of these automakers (I don’t personally care too much for it) so there’s usually a complaint or two attached to just about every record-setting lap achieved at the world famous race track. Off the bat, there’s already some controversy to this new record, particularly the status of the P1 LM as an actual production car. See, there are only five of these exotics made by McLaren so while it is technically a production car, its production volume -- or sheer lack of it -- will inevitably result in people pointing out that it doesn’t qualify as an actual production car.

The same issue was thrown in the direction of the NIO EP9 and that had a bigger production volume than the P1 LM. I know comparing 12 units to five units is strange when talking in terms of production, but that’s how seriously these automakers take the Nurburgring lap record. That’s a separate issue for another time, but I do have to give credit to the McLaren P1 LM -- and the NIO EP9 for that matter -- for posting the lap time that it did around the Nurburgring. Regardless of what I think of the whole pomp surrounding the pursuit of the production lap record in this track, a lap time of 6:43.2 is impressive any which way you look at it.

So for now, the McLaren P1 LM sits at the top of the production car lap time standings at the Nurburgring. How long it stays there is a completely different issue entirely. Considering that the EP9’s stay at the penthouse was considerably short-lived and the upcoming rush of supercars and hypercars that are expected to make their debuts this year and in 2018. I’m not so much of a betting man anymore, but given this trend, I’d be very surprised to see the McLaren P1 LM remain at the top of this list by the time 2018 rolls around. Give credit where it’s due though because the lack of production notwithstanding, the McLaren P1 LM earned the right to call itself the new King of the ‘Ring.

Read our full review on the McLaren P1 GTR By Lanzante Motorsport here.