- The Ford Mustang GTD is the fastest US production car around the Green Hell.
- The 6:57.685 lap time is far behind the 992 GT3 RS and AMG GT Black Series.
- Ford blamed the sub-optimal conditions, and will be back for a new record.
Breaking into a realm long dominated by European supercars, the Ford Mustang GTD has officially claimed its place as the fastest American production car to lap the Nurburgring. With a blistering time of 6:57.685, the track-focused pony car has achieved the promised sub-7-minute milestone, doing so despite less-than-ideal conditions. Yet, Ford isn’t stopping there as plans are already in motion for another attempt to shave even more time off the clock.
A New Benchmark for American Muscle
The lap time was set by Multimatic Motorsports driver Dirk Müller, delivering on a promise made by Ford CEO Jim Farley back in August 2023. While the Mustang GTD edged out the pre-facelift Porsche 992 GT3 (6:59.93), it still has ground to cover to catch models like the Porsche 992 GT3 RS (6:49.328) and Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series (6:48.047). Nevertheless, this marks a major milestone for American performance engineering, proving that a Detroit-born muscle car can hold its own on Germany’s “Green Hell.”
“We Know We Can Do Better”
Ford’s CEO, Jim Farley, celebrated the achievement but made it clear that the company isn’t resting on its laurels. “We’re proud to be the first American automaker with a car that can lap the Nürburgring in under seven minutes, but we aren’t satisfied. We know there’s much more time to find with Mustang GTD. We’ll be back.”
The sentiment was echoed in Ford’s 14-minute “Road to the Ring” documentary, where engineers and drivers expressed confidence that the Mustang GTD still has untapped potential. In the closing moments of the video, team members remarked, “The car has a lot more to offer,” “We know we can do better,” and “We’ll be back.” With improved conditions, the Mustang GTD could have another shot at climbing higher on the list of Nurburgring’s fastest production models..
A Track-Ready Powerhouse
At the heart of the Mustang GTD is the most powerful engine ever fitted to a production Mustang —a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 that churns out a staggering 815 hp (608 kW) and 664 lb-ft (900 Nm) of torque. The car’s track-focused setup includes active aerodynamics integrated into its carbon fiber bodywork, semi-active suspension, and carbon-ceramic brakes.
More: Mercedes-AMG One Beats Its Own Nurburgring Record With 6.29 Lap Time
The GTD that completed the Nürburgring lap was described by Ford as being “stock,” aside from essential safety gear like a roll cage and a competition seat with a five-point harness. It’s also safe to assume that the car was equipped with the optional Performance Pack, which includes lightweight 20-inch magnesium wheels and other weight-saving upgrades, further optimizing its aerodynamic efficiency and handling.
The Blue Oval hasn’t revealed exactly when the Mustang GTD will make its Nürburgring return, but 2025 seems like a solid bet. With fine-tuning, improved weather, and insights from its first run, Ford has a strong chance of climbing even higher on the leaderboard of the track’s fastest production cars.
