Ford GT Mk IV Sets New Record at the Nürburgring
The third generation of the Ford GT was a true sensation from the very beginning. Now, as production of this model is coming to an end, the car has managed to set another impressive record. The track-only Ford GT Mk IV has become the fastest car from an American manufacturer ever to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Its time was an incredible 6 minutes 15.977 seconds.
This result not only puts Ford ahead of all other Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, or Cadillac models that have ever competed on the “Green Hell” track but also makes it the third fastest vehicle in the history of this legendary 12.9-mile German circuit. Even more impressive is that this car is available for purchase.
Details of the Record Lap
At the wheel of the record-setting car was Frédéric Vervisch — a Nürburgring track specialist and a two-time winner of the 24-hour race at this track. Ford representatives reported that the Belgian pilot drove the 800-horsepower GT Mk IV in low air temperature conditions and with a top speed limit of 192 mph (311 km/h) set during the run. Despite this, the car posted a time nearly 14 seconds better than that of the production Mercedes-AMG One.
However, it should be noted that the Mercedes-AMG One’s result (6:29.050 in 2024) remains the best among production cars, as the Ford has the status of an exclusive track model and does not fall into this category.
Historical Context of the Achievement
This record holds special significance. Ten years have passed since the presentation of the third-generation Ford GT and its class victory at Le Mans. The brand could have simply ended production of the model by releasing a limited series with a special livery. Instead, it made history, proving that even on the eve of the end of its life cycle, this car remains a technical masterpiece.
Comparison with Absolute Record Holders
To appreciate the scale of the achievement, it’s worth looking at the cars that are faster than the Ford on this track. These are the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo with an incredible time of 5:19.546 (2018) and the fully electric Volkswagen ID.R with a result of 6:05.336. Both of these models are prototypes created without any rule restrictions and have no relation to series or even track production.
In this context, the Ford, although an extreme machine not intended for public roads, remains a car that can be purchased if funds are available. This makes its achievement even more impressive than Volkswagen’s. It is also important that the Ford is not an electric vehicle — it is equipped with an upgraded version of the twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 engine, making it the fastest internal combustion engine car in the history of the Nürburgring.
Place Among Competitors
Based on the result, the Ford has outpaced such extreme electric vehicles as the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra prototype (6:22.091) and the limited-series hypercar Lotus Evija (6:24.047, 130 units). The closest in time among production internal combustion engine cars remains the Porsche 991 GT2 RS in the Manthey version with a result of 6:43.300.
We can only hope that the 67 lucky individuals who paid $1.7 million for each of these cars will use them on the track as intended. The car was created precisely for this, as it proved with its performance at the Nürburgring.
The Ford GT Mk IV record can be seen as a brilliant final chord in the life cycle of a model that has always been a symbol of technical progress and the brand’s racing ambitions. This achievement reminds us that even in the era of an active transition to electric propulsion, engineering genius is capable of squeezing results from traditional technologies that compete with the best electric prototypes. Success on the “Green Hell” track is not just a number in a record table, but proof of the viability of the ideas laid down in the project over ten years ago.