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Czinger’s 21C already holds lap records at Laguna Seca and COTA, and the Nürburgring could be next
Arjun Pillai | August 18, 2026 3:34 PM CST

These days, Monterey Car Week hardly feels complete without a major reveal from one of California’s home-grown boutique carmakers. This year was no exception, as Czinger Vehicles unveiled its all-new 21C Spyder. While the inline two-seat hypercar is a spectacular machine in its own right, it was founder and CEO Lukas Czinger’s remarks during a conversation about the car that really raised excitement. Going by his comments, Czinger seems to be preparing for a track-record campaign, with a possible visit to the Nürburgring Nordschleife included in the plan.

Just like the coupe version of the 21C that came before it, Czinger’s new Spyder is built as a serious performance weapon. At the core of the project is a bespoke carbon tub developed exclusively for the Spyder, providing the additional structural strength an open-top car requires while still supporting the performance on offer. Power comes from the familiar twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V-8 working alongside three electric motors, for a combined output of 1250 horsepower. Even more remarkable, perhaps, is the fact that the car can produce 3267 pounds of downforce at 150 miles per hour even without its removable roof panel fitted. No other open-top road car has come anywhere close to delivering that level of aerodynamic performance.

That achievement prompted Road & Track to ask whether the company had any interest in chasing open-top lap records. The team behind the car certainly did not hold back.

“We could set some open-top records, but I think we could take some all-out records as well,” Lukas Czinger told R&T. “Just, production car records. I think it would be really neat to do that. Of course, we're thinking about safety a little bit, right? This is a fully crash-tested vehicle. We did the rollover testing as well. Probably take another second just to make sure that it's the right car to go for the kind of gnarly and more risky record attempts as well. But yeah, it's definitely got it—it’s got the potential to do so.”

The 21C is already familiar with setting benchmark lap times. The hard-top version currently holds records at both Laguna Seca and Circuit of the Americas, an especially notable feat for a manufacturer of this size. When asked which circuits interest the team most, Czinger said there are still several tracks in the United States they would be keen to target, including Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Silverstone also came up in the discussion, with Czinger specifically pointing out that the car thrives on a fast circuit that also features tight and narrow sections.

However, there is another iconic European circuit that the team believes is also within reach: the Green Hell.

“I think, obviously, Nürburgring in Germany—we picked up some data there,” said Czinger. “Those were just open days, so there are other cars on the track as well. But we were able to run a couple fast sections and look at our sims and say, ‘Hey, if we extrapolated that to [a] full lap, how are we doing?’ And the short answer is ... we've definitely got a chance, and we'd like to take it. So it's a matter of time.”

That said, do not expect an immediate Czinger press release confirming these record attempts. Czinger told R&T that it could take as long as a year before anything substantial actually happens, which conveniently would line up with next year’s Monterey celebrations. Setting a record at the ‘Ring is not simply a matter of arriving with the right machine either. Cars from major OEMs that set records usually run on extreme tyres, often supplied by Michelin or Pirelli, which push the limits of road legality and off-the-shelf availability. Czinger may not be able to access those same options. On top of that, the driver must not only know the Nürburgring well, but also be capable of finding speed without slick tyres. Once manufacturers find someone with that skill set, they are generally not eager to let others benefit from it.

All of which is to say that, while the 21C looks hugely capable on paper, it will be fascinating to see how pursuing this target helps the brand develop even further.


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