by Ford Unveils New Mustang GTD Competition Version
Ford continues its fight for the best results on the legendary Nürburgring track. The brand returned to the “Green Hell” with an improved version of its flagship Mustang, and this brought impressive results.
The new Mustang GTD Competition model posted a time of 6:40.835 at the Nürburgring, which is over 11 seconds faster than the previous result of the regular GTD. This improvement was made possible thanks to:
Record Lap and Ranking Positions
The record lap was set by Ford Racing and Multimatic factory driver Dirk Müller, who posted a time of 6:40.835. Interestingly, engineer Steve Thompson, who had less than 40 laps of experience on the Nürburgring, posted a time of 6:49.337.
Thanks to this result, the Mustang GTD Competition took sixth place in the Nürburgring’s official pre-series prototype class. Higher in the ranking are such specialized models as the Volkswagen ID.R, the track version of the Ford GT MkIV, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra prototype, the Lotus Evija X, and the incredible McMurtry Speirling.
More relevant for the American market is that the Mustang GTD outperformed the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, which posted a time of 6:49.275. This difference may seem small, but by Nürburgring standards, it’s enough to settle the argument, at least for now.
Technical Improvements of the New Model
The Mustang GTD Competition is not a one-off track special. Ford plans to release this model as a limited-series, road-legal special edition, although the number of cars will be strictly limited and serially numbered.
The automaker does not disclose the exact power, but confirms that the supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine received hardware updates and an “aggressive tune,” pushing the Competition beyond the 815 horsepower of the regular GTD.
Aerodynamically, the model received additional front canards, rear carbon aero discs, and a modified rear wing. These changes are intended to increase downforce without harming efficiency thanks to a drag reduction system.
Furthermore, the Competition is equipped with a new set of lighter magnesium wheels with high-performance tires for better grip. The car also received new carbon bucket seats, lighter dampers, and other weight reduction measures, further improving the power-to-weight ratio.
Availability and Future of the Model
In celebration of the improved record and the Mustang’s 62nd birthday, Ford has reopened applications for the GTD. The release of the Competition version will take place sometime in the future.
This project demonstrates how seriously Ford takes high-performance cars and the competitive segment. The Mustang GTD Competition not only sets records but also serves as a technology demonstrator for the brand’s future models. The limited release and street legality make this model a unique bridge between track achievements and daily use, albeit for a limited circle of enthusiasts. The success at the Nürburgring confirms that American automakers can create technically complex cars capable of competing with the best European and specialized track models.