Ford’s New Attempt at the Legendary Track
Hardly anyone thought Ford would simply concede the Nürburgring supremacy to Chevrolet and the Corvette ZR1/ZR1X twins. Approximately eight months after the Corvette team set the record for American cars on this German track, surpassing the Mustang GTD, Ford has returned. And it appears to have gone even faster.
Updated Prototypes at an Evening Session
Earlier this week, Ford reportedly rented an evening session at the Nürburgring, bringing a pair of Mustang GTDs with a series of minor but important updates. Both cars – one black (likely the EU version) and the other blue (the US version) – were spotted with aerodynamic wheel discs on the rear wheels to improve airflow.
Good News, You Can Apply For A $325K Mustang GTD Again. Bad News, So Can Everyone Else
Additionally, two extra carbon fiber plates (canards) appeared on the front bumper, increasing downforce on the front axle. A video published on YouTube shows this pair working at the limit on the track. And if the filmer’s stopwatch is accurate, they went significantly faster.
New Record Results
The black car is reported to have completed its first fast lap in just 6:42.82, nearly a full 10 seconds better than the record it set last year (6:52.072). During a second lap, this time was improved to an incredible 6:41.74. As for the blue car, it seems to have needed only 6:45.71 to complete a lap of the legendary German track.
It is important to note that the laps were completed on the full 20.832 km track configuration, not the slightly shorter 20.6 km one where the start and finish lines are in different places. Last year’s GTD record was also set on the full 20.832 km distance, so the comparison is valid. However, the video author notes that the start-finish line was out of the camera’s view, so the times he recorded may differ by a second or so.
Comparison with the Best
If the Mustang GTD truly lapped the Nürburgring in 6:41.74, it would place it second in history among production cars. It would surpass the Porsche 911 GT2 RS by Manthey with a result of 6:43.3 seconds and be second only to the Mercedes-AMG One with a time of 6:29.09. Furthermore, it comfortably beats the Corvette ZR1X’s result of 6:49.275.
A Possible Special Version?
The appearance of these prototypes on the track has sparked rumors that Ford might be preparing a slightly more aggressive version of the GTD, as suggested by the aerodynamic updates. Additionally, both cars had golden Nürburgring stickers right under the GTD badge on the rear. This could indicate a special “Nürburgring Edition” or something similar. But, of course, it might not mean anything specific.
These events clearly demonstrate that the battle for the title of the fastest American car on the “Green Hell” is far from over. Updates, even minor ones, can drastically change the results. If the cited figures are officially confirmed, it will be a true technological triumph for Ford, which would not only reclaim leadership among “its own” but also seriously close in on absolute hypercars. This development dynamic shows how competitive the high-performance car segment has become, where every second on the track is the result of engineering genius and uncompromising decisions.