The 2025 Ford Mustang GTD has shattered records and expectations, becoming the first American-made car to break the elusive seven-minute barrier at Germany's iconic Nürburgring Nordschleife with a stunning lap time of 6:57.685. This historic achievement solidifies the Mustang GTD's status among the elite league of supercars, reinforcing its position not just as another sports vehicle but as the embodiment of American automotive ingenuity.
Driven by renowned Multimatic Motorsports driver Dirk Müller, the record-breaking lap not only meets but exceeds the ambitious goal set by Ford CEO Jim Farley during the Mustang GTD's debut earlier this year. Farley expressed pride over the feat, stating, “We’re proud to be the first American automaker with a car to 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.” Buckle up, because Ford is just getting started.
The Mustang GTD, a product of relentless innovation and engineering excellence, blends insights derived from the Mustang GT3 race car with advanced consumer technologies. With its 815-horsepower supercharged V8 engine, carbon-ceramic brakes, active aerodynamics, and semi-active suspension, the GTD shines both on and off the track. This model was built to perform on the Nürburgring, which is known for its challenging layout across 20.832 kilometers dotted with 73 corners.
To meet the stringent safety standards imposed by the Nürburgring, the Mustang GTD was equipped with necessary features, including a competition seat with five-point seatbelts and a roll cage. Remarkably, the car utilized for this historic lap was entirely stock, the same configuration available for customers at the estimated price point of $325,000.
Effective communication of the story behind this groundbreaking achievement is also highlighted by Ford's release of the documentary titled The Road to the Ring. This 13-minute film dives deep behind the scenes, capturing the technical and emotional challenges faced by the Ford team on their quest to etch the Mustang’s name deep onto the Nürburgring record board.
While several brands, such as Lamborghini with its Aventador SVJ and Huracan Performante, have managed to achieve remarkable lap times on the Nürburgring, none have done so under the 7-minute milestone until the Ford Mustang GTD. This pivotal moment revitalizes American pride and underline's Ford's capabilities to compete on the global stage.
Following the strict establishment of regulations set by the Nürburgring for record lap times, the company ensured all requirements were met for their record attempts. Since 2019, the track's governing body defined what constitutes the official start and finish lines for record laps, making every new entry especially significant and challenging.
This record not only puts Ford on the map but sets the stage for future competitions among supercars around the world. Behind the Mustang's impressive performance is not simply horsepower but also decades of track-derived learning and research, equipping the vehicle to tackle one of the most revered racetracks globally.
Describing the vehicle, Farley concluded, “The team behind Mustang GTD took what we’ve learned from decades on the track and engineered a Mustang they can compete with the world’s best supercars.” With this level of excitement and determination to keep achieving greater heights, fans can only speculate what kind of innovations the next model might bring.
Ford's commitment to space-age performance and American craftsmanship has positioned the Mustang GTD not just as another entry but as the beginning of what promises to be exhilarating futures for supercar enthusiasts. The road from here looks bright, and with the Mustang GTD leading the charge, the future of American engineering on German soil is assured.
Fans of performance cars should tune their ears for the rumble of the 5.2L supercharged V8 as Ford gears up for more competitive races. With promises of additional testing and innovations, the Mustang GTD sets the stage for new rivalries, not just on racetracks but throughout the supercar communities worldwide.
Onlookers and automotive enthusiasts alike can expect to see Ford continuing to redefine the supercar market, building on this historic record at the Nürburgring and pushing the limits of what is possible today for road-going sports cars. More than just another chapter, the Ford Mustang GTD is writing its legacy as the car of the moment, making headlines and history.