The new Audi RS 3 has broken the lap record for the compact segment at the Nurburgring Nordschleife.

With a time of seven minutes and 40.7 seconds, the new Audi RS 3 Saloon has beat the lap record for the compact class on the Nurburgring Nordschleife by 4.64 seconds, with racing and development Driver Frank Stippler at the wheel.

The run was no doubt assisted by the RS 3's many new technologies, including its new Torque Splitter, which distributes torque between the rear wheels to allow the car to follow the steering angle more precisely.

The setup of the Audi RS 3 is completed by Pirelli P Zero 'Trofeo R' semi-slick tyres, which are now optional for the first time. The car is stopped by a 19-inch ceramic braking system in the front, and features the RS sport suspension plus with adaptive damper control. It individually and continuously adjusts each shock absorber to the road conditions, the driving situation, and the mode selected in Audi drive select.

An RS Performance mode is equipped with two setups for different racetracks - one is adjusted for comfort on uneven tracks like the Nordschleife, where minimising vertical excitation while maintaining high lateral dynamics matters, and the other is a sporty setup for even racetracks like the Hockenheimring.

The legendary five-cylinder engine in the Audi RS 3 delivers a maximum speed of 290km/h - claimed by Audi to be the highest in its segment. The RS 3 is also the best in its class with acceleration from zero to 100km/h accomplished in just 3.8 seconds.