Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT made history at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit by setting the fastest officially recorded lap for a production SUV. Behind the wheel, UAE-based GT racer Ramez Azzam blitzed the full 5.281 km Grand Prix layout in 2:14.046, marking a new milestone for Porsche and SUV performance.
The Run & Sanctioning
This effort unfolded under a newly established, officially sanctioned lap record program launched by Yas Marina Circuit in collaboration with the Emirates Motorsport Organization (EMSO). Under the scrutiny of FIA official Fergus Lavers and EMSO observer Hamid Al Mazroui, cars were checked for showroom-spec compliance. Following a 60-minute practice and 45-minute qualifying session, Azzam laid down the fastest-ever time by a production SUV.
Power & Performance
The Cayenne Turbo GT is Porsche’s most formidable SUV, powered by a 4.0 L twin‑turbo V8 delivering 659 PS and 850 Nm of torque (post-facelift figures). It’s mated to an eight-speed Tiptronic S transmission and equipped with performance hardware like PCCB ceramic brakes, PDCC active roll stabilization, and active rear-wheel steering—all critical to taming both high-speed straights and technical corners.
Azzam, fresh off a GT4 class win in the Dubai 24 Hours, commented: “The power and sound of the engine are impressive, but what sets the Cayenne Turbo GT apart is its braking and handling performance. For a car of this size to brake so late, carry so much corner speed and sit so flat is remarkable.” He averaged 141.83 km/h around this demanding circuit.
Regional Impact & Official Remarks
Wissam Khalil, General Manager of Porsche Centre Abu Dhabi & Al Ain – Ali & Sons Co, praised Yas Marina and EMSO for establishing this record format and congratulated Azzam on his achievement saying: “We’re incredibly proud to have set this benchmark and officially claim the title of the first and fastest production SUV on the Yas Marina Circuit. This achievement is a testament to the exceptional performance of the Cayenne Turbo GT, and also the collaborative spirit between Porsche Centre Abu Dhabi, EMSO, and Yas Marina Circuit. Congratulations to Azzam for an outstanding drive that made this moment possible.”
Similarly, Yas Marina’s GM Ali Al Beshr noted: “This achievement contributes to our growing portfolio of sanctioned lap records and reinforces Yas Marina Circuit as the benchmark for performance in the region.”
Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT record figures
• Lap time: 2:14.046 around the 5.281 km GP layout
• Average speed: 141.83 km/h
• SUV performance: Stunning agility, braking, and composure for over 2 minutes at pace For context, this isn’t Porsche’s first SUV track record: earlier, a pre-facelift Cayenne Turbo GT held the Nürburgring Nordschleife SUV record with a 7:38.926 lap. ⸻
Final Word
With its potent V8, race-bred handling, and official sanctioning, the Cayenne Turbo GT’s 2:14.046 at Yas represents a landmark — proof that SUVs can now challenge sports cars on the world’s fastest circuits. Yas Marina’s new lap-record protocol sets the stage for future head-to-heads between high-performance road cars.
