Open gallery 
We set out in the Audi RS e-tron GT to set a new all-electric benchmark
Our target: the fastest possible all-electric hot-lap of the 2.37-mile Goodwood circuit
The Audi RS e-tron GT has all the amped up power we needed for our hot-lap challenge
The RS badge indicates the race-bred DNA that underpins the Audi RS e-tron GT
With 598PS and 830Nm, the Audi RS e-tron GT is the most potent Audi RS on-sale
Grippy all-electric quattro and launch control delivers 0-62mph in 3.3 seconds
The Audi RS e-tron GT’s 93.4kWh battery delivers up to 283 miles (when not on-track)
It’s all about aero: a slippery drag coefficient of 0.24 and a limited top speed of 155mph
The Audi RS e-tron GT can lower itself at speed by 22mm, using adaptive air suspension
No Matrix LED headlights needed today; all’s clear for the Audi RS e-tron GT
Our precision driver – Barry ‘Baz’ Ward – gets comfortable in the cosseting sports seats
Charged up, ready to go: the Audi RS e-tron GT prepares to leave the pitlane
Accelerating hard: the Audi RS e-tron GT’s power is boosted to 646PS with launch control
“This car just grips and grips,” says Baz. “Some electric cars feel fast; this is something else”
Out of the Chicane, quattro all-wheel-drive propels the Audi RS e-tron GT onto the straight
Across the line in 1m27.7s. A new all-electric benchmark for Goodwood
“I’m really proud to have been involved,” says Baz. “This is one awesome machine”
Promoted by Autocar 8 mins read 25 August 2022 Follow @@autocar Share
Britain’s race tracks have a wealth of stats when it comes to lap records: ranging from Formula Ford to Formula 1. But, thanks to the fact that all-electric race series are still in their relative infancy, there aren’t that many benchmarks for an electric hot lap. Well, not yet. We wanted to change that.
That’s why we took the game-changing Audi RS e-tron GT to the Goodwood race circuit to see if we could set the new all-electric standard for its iconic 2.37-mile layout, while also letting us experience how amazing this halo Audi e-tron model is to drive. What all-electric lap time did we ultimately post? Watch the video to find out, and then read on to get a taste of what it felt like in-car.
Learn more about the game-changing all-electric Audi RS e-tron GT
A shared reputation for making history
So, why Goodwood? It’s simple, really. The pinnacle of modern all-electric automotive technology in Audi’s RS e-tron GT, perfectly juxtaposed against the backdrop of one of the UK’s most celebrated circuits. Who wouldn’t want to see that?
With a storied history dating back to 1948, and an uncompromising old-school layout that uses the fast sweeping perimeter roads of the airfield, Goodwood has helped a wealth of driving icons cement their status in the annals of racing legend.
Its sparsity of tyre walls is equalled only by minimal run-offs that offer little room for recovery if things go wrong. As a result, it presents a fine line between a heroic lap-time and a catastrophic off. Be in no question: this quirky historic track is a true test of driver skill and a car’s outright performance.
Equally, Audi has its own legacy for redefining automotive benchmarks – especially when it comes to the quattro all-wheel-drive technology that has powered its Vorsprung Durch Technik philosophy of ‘progress through technology’ since 1980.
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Whether redefining loose-surface grip in the World Rally Championship, scaling new heights at Pikes Peak, conquering the British Touring Car Championship or beating its Le Mans 24 Hours rivals into submission 13 times from 18 races, Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive has changed the face of racing, and delivered improved confidence and safety to millions of road drivers thereafter.
Today, the Audi RS e-tron GT is helping Audi push the boundaries of electric car performance. Its astonishing 598PS and 830Nm of instantly available electric torque make this the most potent Audi RS model available today, and the most powerful road car Audi have ever produced – petrol, diesel or electric.
But for all that the Audi RS e-tron GT is potent and highly advanced, it’s also deceptively driver-friendly. As our budding benchmark-setting driver Barry ‘Baz’ Ward pulls onto Goodwood’s pit straight to start his ultimate all-electric hot lap, all he has to do to prepare for launch is put the Audi RS e-tron GT into Dynamic Mode, place his left foot on the brake and press the throttle. Get set for the ride of your life.