New Ford Mustang GTD Competition Clocks Record Time at Nürburgring

After becoming the first car from an American brand to break the 7-minute barrier at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, the Mustang GTD shattered its own record with a new 6:40.835 lap time.
With this achievement, Ford now claims the two fastest Nürburgring lap times of any American brand, including the Ford GT MkIV

Driven once again by Ford Racing and Multimatic factory driver Dirk Müller, the Mustang GTD Competition secured the sixth fastest time on the Nürburgring Pre-Production / Prototype Class leaderboard.

Proving just how capable the Mustang GTD Competition is, Ford Racing engineer Steve Thompson also piloted the GTD Competition to a time of 6:49.337 around the Nürburgring — faster than Müller’s original record. Thompson has modest driving experience at the 'Green Hell, having cumulatively driven the Nürburgring fewer than 40 laps.

To shave more than 11 seconds off Mustang GTD’s benchmark, the team relentlessly focused on four key areas:

• More Power: Hardware updates and aggressive tuning push Mustang GTD Competition’s supercharged 5.2-litre V8 to a targeted engine output beyond the original Mustang GTD’s 815 horsepower (826 PS)
  

• Advanced Aerodynamics: Building on the existing Drag Reduction System (DRS), the Mustang GTD Competition adds rear wing modifications, secondary front dive planes, and rear carbon fibre aero discs to increase total downforce without sacrificing efficiency or aero balance
  

• Increased Grip: New high-performance tyres
  

• Weight Reduction: New magnesium wheels, new carbon bucket seats, lighter damper system and additional actions help reduce weight

Recognising the exclusivity of this achievement, the GTD Competition will only be offered in the future as a special edition model available in strictly limited, serialised quantities in North America.

Mustang GTD Competition’s historic feat celebrates the 62nd birthday of the Mustang.

Joe Bellino is Mustang GTD brand manager