Porsche Cup driver Leo Sanchez acquires the world’s first unit of the 496 km/h BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme without knowing the value By Thiago Lemos
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Leo Sanchez, driver of Porsche Cup, acquired the first unit for sale in the world of the BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme electric supercar. The vehicle reached 496.22 km/h in tests carried out at the Papenburg racetrack, at Alemanha, becoming the fastest production car on the planet. The purchase took place without the buyer knowing the exact price, estimated at around R$13 million.
The deal involved direct contact with BYD executives, including vice president Alexandre Baldy. Leo Sanchez sent a letter justifying his interest and was selected among several candidates. The only unit destined for Brasil will be delivered in the second half of 2026.
We are proud to announce that the YANGWANG U9 Xtreme has been awardedhttps://t.co/4bWDOwrFpY’s “Moment of the Year 2025”, following its extraordinary 496.22 km/h world-record run at Germany’s ATP Papenburg test track.
— BYD Global (@BYDGlobal)November 26, 2025
This historic achievement marks the U9 Xtreme as the fastest…pic.twitter.com/LDbOvC2rT4
Supercar acquisition process
Leo Sanchez initiated contact with BYD through friendship with Alexandre Baldy.
He expressed immediate interest in the record-breaking model.
The company required a written defense explaining the reasons for the purchase.
The selection took place quickly among global candidates.
Contract signing
The contract was signed during dinner at Rio of Janeiro.
The event was attended by the founder of BYD, Wang Chuanfu.
Leo Sanchez only discovered the price the following day, via news report.
The model of the vehicle was delivered as a symbol of the acquisition.
Technical specifications of the Yangwang U9 Xtreme
The electric supercar surpasses the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, which registered 490.48 km/h since 2019.
Four independent engines, one per wheel, generate a combined power of over 3,000 horsepower.
The engines reach 30 thousand revolutions per minute.
Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h occurs in less than 2 seconds.
- Battery allows recharging from 30% to 80% in 10 minutes
- Special tires withstand high speeds and high temperatures
- 1,200-volt electrical architecture elevates performance
- Active aerodynamics optimize stability at extreme speeds
Circuit performance
The model recorded a lap at the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 6 minutes and 59.157 seconds.
This time breaks the 7-minute barrier for production electrics.
The result highlights the balance between straight speed and curves.
Extensive testing has taken place since July 2024 on the German track.
Driver Marc Basseng drove the top speed record in Papenburg.
Limited production and customization
Only 30 units will be manufactured worldwide.
An owners meeting is scheduled for March 2026.
The owners will decide on color and finishing details.
The units will be delivered from the second half of 2026.
Leo Sanchez’s trajectory in motorsport
Leo Sanchez joined Porsche Cup in 2018 as manager of Grupo NC.
He won the 3.8 class title in 2019 alongside Átila Abreu.
In 2021, he participated in an unprecedented project with two different cars in the same event.
In the Rookie category, he had four victories and six podiums in recent seasons.
The driver continues to participate in Porsche Cup competitions.
His experience includes endurance racing and supporting Fórmula 1 in Interlagos.
The Yangwang U9 Xtreme represents the advancement of high-performance electric mobility.
