There could be a new American champion at the Nurburgring.
Numerous videos circulating online depict the Ford Mustang GTD zooming around the Nurburgring on Tuesday, likely in a bid for a record time. A clip on the StatesideSupercars YouTube channel linked below asserts that the refreshed Mustang GTD completed the ‘Ring in 6:41.74.
6:41.74 FORD MUSTANG GTD (EVO) NÜRBURGRING LAP Record Attempt, Outside footage & Timing!
If accurate, this would indicate that the Ford Mustang GTD has significantly outpaced the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1‘s ‘Ring record of 6:50.763 and the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X‘s ‘Ring record of 6:49.275. Moreover, this implies that the Mustang GTD is faster around the ‘Ring than the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Black Series, Porsche 911 GT2 RS MR, and even the Porsche 911 GT2 RS Manthey Performance.
Ford aimed for victory, and it seems it may have achieved it.
StatesideSupercars points out that the reported time of 6:41.74 might fluctuate by a second or so due to the start and finish lines not being visible. Even if the time is not absolute, it nonetheless positions the Mustang GTD as the American ‘Ring champion. Furthermore, it elevates the Mustang GTD into an exclusive class.
The Mercedes-Benz AMG One completed the ‘Ring in 6:29.090. The AMG One essentially serves as a street-legal supercar equipped with an F1 race car powertrain. This context makes all of this remarkable.
A Ford representative told The Drive, “As we stated, game on.” Indeed.
Historically, the Ford Mustang GTD was the first American vehicle to achieve a sub 7-minute lap at the ‘Ring. Ford subsequently broke its own record by 5.5 seconds a few months later, only for Team Chevy to come and spoil Ford’s celebration by outrunning the Mustang GTD with both the Corvette ZR1 and ZR1X.
Ford CEO Jim Farley took this to heart. Farley praised Team Chevy and promptly declared, “Game on.” He was not joking.
Team Ford returned to the ‘Ring with a tweaked Mustang GTD last October. Clearly, the Blue Oval was preparing updates for what would eventually lead to a record-setting lap. This record-setting run, along with the anticipated new record, appears to have occurred just yesterday.
We’ll wait for the official word from Ford. There may indeed be a new champion on the scene, and this time it wasn’t just a second or two that Ford trimmed off. It seems Ford might have cut down by 10.3 seconds, more or less. Impressive.
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