Ford Mustang GTD Dominates Nürburgring: Shatters Own Lap Record!
The Ford Mustang GTD has once again proven its mettle on the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife, smashing its previous lap record and solidifying its position as one of the fastest production cars ever to grace the Green Hell.
Last summer, the Mustang GTD sent shockwaves through the automotive world with a lap time of 6:57.685. However, Ford wasn't content to rest on its laurels. After meticulous adjustments and enhancements in collaboration with engineering partner Multimatic, the Mustang GTD returned to Germany with driver Dirk Müller behind the wheel and clocked an astonishing 6:52.072 lap time. That's a staggering 5.5 seconds faster than its previous attempt!
So, what changes propelled the Mustang GTD to this incredible achievement? According to a Ford blog post, the team focused on several key areas:
- Revised chassis tuning with increased torsional rigidity for enhanced handling precision.
- Updated suspension hardware and alignment for predictable control.
- Aerodynamic tweaks for improved downforce.
- Powertrain calibration updates to optimize performance.
- Revised ABS and traction control behavior for better responsiveness.
- New Active Spool Valve development.
These modifications demonstrate Ford's commitment to pushing the boundaries of performance and extracting every ounce of potential from the Mustang GTD. The company even incorporated lessons learned from its Rolex 24 victory in Daytona.
With this new record, the Ford Mustang GTD now holds the fourth fastest Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time for a production car, just behind the Mercedes-AMG One (6:29.090), Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series (6:48.047), and the current Porsche 911 GT3 RS (6:49.328). It also surpasses the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 with the Manthey Performance Kit (6:55.737).
The Mustang GTD is far from a typical Mustang. Limited to just 1,000 units and priced north of $300,000, it boasts significant suspension, chassis, and aerodynamic upgrades, along with a near 50/50 weight distribution. Power comes from a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 producing an estimated 815 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque.
“Despite becoming the first American-made production car to break the seven-minute barrier around the Nordschleife, a mixture of high temperatures and soggy conditions held the GTD back”, explained Jack Fitzgerald about the last year attempt. “That mission has been accomplished. The Mustang GTD's new official time around the Nürburgring Nordschleife is 6:52.072—more than 5.5 seconds faster than Ford's previous attempt”.
It marks a monumental achievement for the American automaker. As Lucas Bell stated, a 6:52.072 lap time puts the GTD in rarefied air and it represents “a massive achievement for Detroit”.
With production slated to begin this spring, anticipation is high for these high-performance machines to hit the road. How will the Ford Mustang GTD influence the future of performance car design?
What are your thoughts on the Mustang GTD's Nürburgring accomplishment? Share your opinions in the comments below!