To several readers, Lynk & Co is a brand you might be hearing for the first time. Owned by Volvo’s parent Geely, who aims ownership squarely at young professionals. However, the company has plans other than city slicking as previously reported.
The model in question is the 03 mid-size sedan, that’s been kidnapped by Swedish-based Cyan Racing formerly of Polestar fame; whom from 2013 ran the V8 Supercars Championship in a Volvo S60 with the likes of Scott McLaughlin behind the wheel.
That said, the Lynk & Co 03 is no stranger to the high-octane world of motorsports as Cyan Racing have entered the 2019 FIA World Touring Car Championship with not one but four Lynk & Co 03 TCR machines.
Nonetheless, the team had a bigger ambition in sight – Ze Nordschleife. The 21-kilometres of tarmac is one of the motoring industry’s toughest adversaries. The team are looking to beat the records set for fastest four-door and front-wheel drive car. The former holder being Jaguar’s XE Project 8 while the latter belonged to Renault's Megane Trophy-R.
Unfazed by the daunting challenge ahead, the team strapped in touring car champion Thed Björk who flailed his track weapon around the track amidst appalling weather conditions. But as the sun started drying up the track, the flying Swede brought home a record breaking time of 7 minutes and 20.143 seconds! That’s three seconds faster than a V8 Jaguar and scarcely believable 25 seconds quicker than the Renault. Astonishing.
Powering the 03 Cyan Concept into the record books is a force-inducted 2-litre, four pot engine that churned out an eye-watering 394kW at 7800rpm along with 504Nm of torque between 4500-7000rpm. Power is sent to the front-wheels via a six-speed sequential box that’s capable of swapping cogs in just 60ms according to Cyan Racing.
Bringing the 1287kg Chinese-Swede mass to a halt are a pair of massive 6-piston stoppers squeezing on 378mm vented discs upfront while the rear rotors measure 290mm. Assisting the brakes are 285/30 R20 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubbers that’s damped on all fours by adjustable Öhlins.
“We continue to push past the boundaries and goals that we have set for the Lynk & Co 03 Cyan Concept, a car that acts as a development platform for future Lynk & Co performance cars and parts," said Henrik Fries, Head of Automotive R&D at Cyan Racing.
"While our main purpose for the many laps on the Nürburgring Nordschleife is development, the records that we broke are a true testament to the potential and capabilities of the Lynk & Co platform, as well as our engineering philosophy from more than two decades of motorsport and road car performance."
Stay tuned to CarShowroom as we bring you more updates as they come.
