It Took 66 Years to Break the Trabant's Nurburgring Record, and Here's How It Happened | Carscoops

      A diesel microcar from Ligier has just set a new record for the slowest lap at the Nürburgring, and yes, it will have a limited edition as a result.

      Just seven hours ago, a small French manufacturer managed to break a record at the Nürburgring circuit.

      This lap time is the slowest recorded in over sixty years.

      The car in question hardly meets the typical standards for a vehicle, possessing only 8 horsepower.

      Some records are centered around incredible speed, while others, such as this one, are about patience and perhaps a touch of self-deprecating humor. If you’ve ever been curious about which car holds the title for the slowest lap around the Nurburgring Nordschleife, your search ends here. A new champion of slow speed has emerged, coming from the modest French brand Ligier.

      Historically recognized for managing its own Formula 1 team, the brand has since redirected its efforts towards compact, affordable four-wheel vehicles categorized as quadricycles. These vehicles are designed to be so user-friendly that you don’t require a driver’s license to use one, and in France, they can be driven legally starting at age 14.

      A duo of French journalists undertook the unlikely journey of setting a record lap in a Ligier JS50, making the trip from Paris to the famous German racetrack in the diesel-powered microcar.

      A Record Displaying Patience

      The JS50, a compact two-door vehicle with just 8 horsepower, is electronically restricted to a maximum speed of 28 mph (45 km/h). It completed a lap at the Nürburgring in a steadfast 28 minutes and 25.81 seconds. While that time might not be noteworthy on paper, it certainly earns its place in the record books.

      To put it into perspective, the previous slowest recorded lap was 16 minutes and 1 second, achieved by a Trabant P50 in 1960, making the Ligier’s time look almost humorously slow in comparison. On the contrary, the fastest production car to complete a lap at the Nordschleife is the Mercedes-AMG One, which achieved a dizzying 6 minutes and 29.1 seconds.

      The team wasn’t satisfied with just one entry; they also brought two electric versions of the JS50. The first, similar to the diesel model, belongs to the L6e classification and shares the same speed limit of 28 mph (45 km/h) and managed a lap time of 27 minutes and 55.58 seconds. The more powerful electric L7e variant, reaching a top speed of 47 mph (75 km/h), performed a bit better with a lap time of 19 minutes and 53.36 seconds.

      A Special Edition for a Remarkably Ordinary Lap

      While Ligier hasn't released a video of their excruciatingly slow laps at the Nürburgring, we're not disappointed—it would likely be less engaging than watching paint dry. However, Ligier has created a special edition of the JS50, dubbed the Ultimate Racing Experience edition, specifically for their Nürburgring endeavor. This model will be available in Europe throughout 2026.

      The special edition features a tri-color paint scheme in blue, white, and red, along with new black 16-inch wheels fitted with Nankang RC semi-slick tires. Ligier has made customized enhancements both inside and outside, including new badges front and rear, unique upholstery themed around the French flag, an aluminum gear knob, Alcantara lining on the handbrake boot, and blue seat belts.

      Additionally, the steering wheel is adorned with matching blue accents, and the dashboard is embellished with celebratory stickers to complete the overall look.