The Ford Mustang GTD has long been a subject of anticipation. Weeks of teasing by Ford have hinted at its remarkable lap time at the Nürburgring. Today, the Blue Oval has officially announced that the 815-horsepower Mustang GTD conquered the Nordschleife in an astonishing 6:57.685. This is a truly remarkable achievement.

Unleashing American Speed at the Green Hell

Weather Challenges at the Nürburgring

In October, Ford faced the wrath of nasty weather conditions during its time at the Nürburgring. Scheduling and logistics became a complex task when renting out the entire track and bringing in a crew. Dirk Muller, the Le Mans winner who piloted the Mustang GTD, was just one part of the team present. It's likely that weather played a significant role in not achieving an even faster lap time. The Nürburgring Nordschleife, stretching 12.9 miles with 73 turns, is a formidable challenge. It's called the Green Hell for a reason, and even with its speed, navigating such a wild track is no easy feat. The $325,000+ Mustang GTD was built to handle this challenge, but it's doubtful that any customer will come close to Muller's mark.

Competing with the World's Best Supercars

Only five production cars have set a faster lap at the Nürburgring, and none of them were American. The Dodge Viper ACR previously held the benchmark at 7:01.30 for seven years. Ford CEO Jim Farley emphasized that the team behind the Mustang GTD has taken decades of track knowledge and engineered a car that can compete with the world's best. While they are proud to be the first American automaker to lap the Nürburgring in under seven minutes, they are not satisfied and believe there is more to be found. The Mustang GTD's chassis and suspension have been seriously massaged by Multimatic, giving it an edge over its racing counterpart with no power or active aero limitations. It shares very little with a regular Mustang, making it an extreme machine.

The Chevy Corvette ZR1: A Potential Challenger

Only one American car on the horizon has a chance of dethroning the Mustang GTD, and that's the Chevy Corvette ZR1. With 1,064 hp from its twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8, the Vette has more power than its rival. It's also likely to be significantly less expensive. However, it's an apples-to-oranges comparison. The Mustang GTD's purpose is to outgun its racing counterpart with unrestricted power and active aero. Its unique setup makes it a force to be reckoned with on the track.