Ligier Sets the Slowest Lap Ever at Nürburgring: In a motorsport world obsessed with speed, lap records, and outright performance, Ligier has done the unthinkable—it has proudly set the slowest officially recorded lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife. And it did so with a vehicle that was never designed for racing.
The unlikely record-holder is the Ligier JS50 Revo D+, a tiny diesel-powered quadricycle that turned low speed into a headline-grabbing achievement.
Slowest Nürburgring Lap Time Ever Recorded
The Nürburgring Nordschleife, a 20.83km circuit famous for pushing hypercars to their limits, saw the JS50 Revo D+ complete a lap in:
28 minutes 25.8 seconds
To put that into perspective, the Mercedes-AMG One, currently the fastest production car at the circuit, holds a lap time of 6:29.090—over four times faster.
Yet Ligier’s goal was never speed. It was about proving that even 45kmph can make motorsport history.
What Is the Ligier JS50 Revo D+?
The JS50 Revo D+ belongs to Europe’s “voiture sans permis” category—vehicles that can be legally driven without a licence, even by teenagers as young as 14 in some countries.
Key specifications:
- Engine: 478cc diesel
- Power: 8 bhp
- Top speed: Limited to 45 kmph
- Category: Light quadricycle (L6e)
On a track as demanding as the Nordschleife, those numbers usually spell disaster. Instead, they delivered a historic moment.
Electric Versions Go Faster
Ligier didn’t stop with the diesel model. Two electric JS50 variants also took on the Nürburgring—and both were quicker.
Electric lap times:
- JS50 Electric (45 kmph): 27:55.580
- JS50 Electric (75 kmph, L7e): 19:53.4
While still far from fast by Nürburgring standards, the 75kmph electric version was impressively quick for a quadricycle—though still slower than some classic economy cars from decades past.
All three vehicles ran on Nankang RC semi-slick tyres, an amusingly serious choice given the modest speeds involved.
Diesel Wins the Efficiency Test
Beyond lap times, Ligier also highlighted the real-world efficiency of the JS50 Revo D+.
Two French journalists drove the quadricycle from Paris to the Nürburgring and back, covering over 500km on a single 17.3-litre tank.
That translates to approximately 33 kmpl, closely matching Ligier’s official claim of 34 kmpl.
The electric versions, with a maximum range of up to 192km, had to be transported to the circuit instead—handing the diesel model a clear win in long-distance practicality.
A Record No One Asked For—But Everyone Will Remember
Ligier jokingly linked this stunt to its historic Formula 1 roots, but the real achievement lies elsewhere. By setting the slowest Nürburgring lap ever, the brand has created one of the most entertaining and unconventional motorsport stories in recent years.
In an era defined by speed wars and record-breaking hypercars, Ligier proved that going slow—very slow—can still make history.
