​​Mustang GTD Laps Nürburgring Faster Than Any Car from an American Brand​

For the first time ever, an American car has busted through what seemed impenetrable, the exclusive sub-7-minute lap time club at the famed 12.94-mile Nürburgring in Germany. This club has, until now, only been reserved for production road cars from Porsche, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, and Radical. However, Ford kicked the door in and sat at the table with the brand new 2025 Mustang GTD. While everyone’s wearing their formal wear, the Mustang has shown up in jeans and a ‘Merica t-shirt to show the group what a good time looks like.  

A Promise to Fans 

Ford set out to go to The Ring from the get-go with the new GTD and set a sub-7-minute lap time, even saying so in their official press release sent out in September 2023. The Mustang GTD was made to break hearts and shatter glass ceilings, too.  

A Great Group Working Together to Succeed 

When seasoned Multimatic Motorsports driver Dirk Müller climbed into the GTD that day, he knew he was coming home with a fast lap time. There was no way he would let weather or other issues spoil what needed to be done. The engineers, the designers, the technicians, everyone had worked so hard. Their success rested squarely at his hands and feet. Two years of blood, sweat, and tears for one moment that could forever be etched in automotive history. No pressure.  

A Word from Ford 

“The team behind Mustang GTD took what we’ve learned from decades on the track and engineered a Mustang that can compete with the world’s best supercars,” said Ford President and CEO Jim Farley. “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.” 

Okay, Stop Stalling! How Fast Is the Mustang GTD? 

And so, what was the official recorded time? 6:57.685. Six minutes and fifty-seven seconds. That bests the car that the GTD was engineered to beat, the current generation Porsche 911 GT3. The GTD even bested the Manthey-Racing modified 911 GT3 by 2.3 seconds. While two seconds may not seem like much, in the racing world, that is an eternity. That’s the difference between a first-place finisher and a last-place finisher.  

A Unique Engine and Suspension 

The 2025 Mustang GTD is powered by a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 that pumps out a wild 815 horsepower and features an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic. Multimatic Motorsports, a partner with Ford and its racing efforts, specially made the suspension for the GTD, including the road-going and racing versions of the most recent generation Ford GT.  

But Wait, There’s More…  

Ford isn’t done, though. No, as Jim Farley has already stated, the team is going back. The reason is simple: they know there was time left on the track. Sadly, each and every time the GTD team went out for an official run, the weather was terrible. In fact, on the day that the record attempt was made, there were sub-optimal conditions, including damp parts of the track, which will easily cost a car valuable tenths to seconds during a lap. There is a real possibility that the Mustang GTD has another 3-5 seconds in her for a potential time of 6:52, which would take the Mustang past even more of the most extreme supercars on the fastest lap list.  

How Is Ford the First American Car Company to Be Able to Do This? 

Some may be asking, how is Ford the first American automaker to lap the Nürburgring in under 7 minutes? Well, it’s not for a lack of trying by other automakers. The Dodge Viper ACR almost did in 2017 with a 7:01.3, but that lap ended in disaster with a tire that blew, resulting in the Viper crashing on its next run. The Nürburgring is dangerous. It has dashed the hopes and dreams of many, which is why it’s called The Green Hell, a nickname that’s just as famous as its real name, coined by 3-time F1 World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart (a one-time Ford partner and consultant). Chevrolet worked with the German car magazine Sport Auto to set an official time for the new C8 Corvette Z06, but they were only able to muster a lap time of 7 minutes and 10 seconds.  

All Hail the King! 

So, with that, Ford is the American Nürburgring king. All hail the king, for he’s a jolly good fellow.  

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