The Ford Mustang GTD Sets a New Record

Ford knows how to keep its promises, especially when it comes to outperforming other manufacturers on the track, as seen in the 1960s with the legendary Ford GT40. Earlier last week, the Ford Mustang GTD made history by completing a lap of the iconic Nürburgring circuit in under 7 minutes.

This achievement is anything but ordinary, as it makes the Mustang GTD the fastest American car ever to lap the Nürburgring. The American sports car completed a lap in 6 minutes and 57.68 seconds. To put that into perspective, it’s even faster than a Porsche 911 GT3 992.1 (6:59.42), a Ferrari 488 Pista (7:00.03), or a Dodge Viper ACR (7:01.30), all of which are renowned as circuit beasts. While there are other production cars even faster than the Mustang GTD, what truly matters here is that the American sports car achieved this feat in under 7 minutes. It is only the sixth production car in history to achieve such a performance, making this accomplishment even more remarkable.

815 Thoroughbred Horsepower

The Mustang GTD is far from being just an overpowered Mustang. Ford managed to significantly reduce its weight using carbon fiber panels. The aerodynamics, chassis, braking system, and steering—absolutely everything—were completely redesigned for this car.

What makes the Mustang GTD even more impressive is its massive 5.2-liter V8 engine hidden under the hood. Borrowed from the Shelby GT500, this engine is paired with a giant supercharger, boosting its total power output to over 815 horsepower and its top speed to 325 km/h.

A Benchmark Circuit

The Nürburgring has become the benchmark for measuring the performance of new cars. With its 20.8 kilometers and numerous turns, it tests the technical limits of any vehicle. In short, Ford couldn’t have dreamed of a better result for the Mustang GTD’s performance. This achievement is likely to make the American sports car even more popular among collectors.

Jean-Sébastien Poudrier