Elemental RP1 ready to prove it makes world's fastest track car

British sports car maker, Elemental, has announced it is confident its new updated RP1 will break the outright Nurburgring lap record for production cars, thanks to a new aero pack that helps the Caterham 7-rival generate more than 1000kg of downforce.

The current 6min 48sec record, was set by a Radical SR8LM back in 2009 and will be a tough time to beat. The small radical was an extreme track car, rather than a road car, but Elemental has claimed it will still triumph over its British rival because of its new F1-style aero.

Redesigned by former McLaren Formula 1 designer, Mark Taylor, the updated RP1 is claimed to have considerable more downforce and less weight than its 2009 rival.

Currently, in tests, the RP1 produces its maximum 1000kg of downforce at 250km/h, thanks to its state-of-of-the-art ground-effect aerodynamics.

Speaking on the new aero pack, Taylor said: "The 1000kg of downforce sounds bonkers but it's a very stable package."

Taylor says, ultimately, more work to optimise the air flow around the driver, plus other upgrades could see the RP1 generate as much as 1200kg of downforce.

The first RP1 was delivered in the UK earlier in December.

As standard the RP1 comes with a Ford-sourced 239kW/450Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder.

Combined with a six-speed sequential Hewland gearbox, and weighing in at just 58kg, the RP1 can reach 100km/h in just 2.8 seconds and top out at around 265km/h.

In the UK, Elemental sells the RP1 for £75,750 (A$120,000) before options.

It's not known if the small Hampshire-based car maker has any plans to export cars Down Under.