Ford Mustang GTD Lapped the Ring in Under 7 Minutes

Ford is on a mission to lap the Nürburgring race track in Germany in under seven minutes with the Mustang GTD.

The Mustang GTD has been tested at the rink over the past year, and Ford has confirmed that an official time has been set. Ford has not yet revealed the time, but it is likely that the goal of under 7 minutes has been met. A short film discussing the attempt will be released soon, with a trailer to be released on October 23.

The Mustang GTD was developed as the ultimate track-focused Mustang, drawing on the knowledge that Ford and its engineers have honed over decades of racing. However, it can still be driven on public roads, thanks to an advanced suspension that includes Multimatic's proven Adaptive Spool Valve (ASV) dampers, making it stiff enough for the track, yet supple enough for the road.

To achieve dominating times on the track, advanced aerodynamics must also be developed, and active aerodynamics with a drag reduction system similar to that found in F1 has been confirmed for the car.

Serious power is also a must, and this will be provided by a supercharged 5.2-liter V-8. This engine, rated at 815 hp, is derived from the unit in the previous-generation Mustang Shelby GT500 and features dry sump lubrication (a Mustang first), a maximum engine speed of 7,650 rpm (100 rpm higher than the Shelby), and a smaller supercharger pulley, titanium exhaust, and other new elements.

The engine powers the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission mounted in the rear for better weight distribution. According to Ford, the top speed is 202 mph.

Ford is currently offering the Mustang GTD for the 2025 and 2026 model years. It has not been confirmed if production will be expanded beyond that date. Prospective buyers must go through an application process, and the initial application process in North America concluded last spring, with over 7,500 applications received.

Multimatic, which built the latest Ford GT supercar and also built some of Ford's Mustang race cars, plans to begin production of the Mustang GTD later this year. Ford has not disclosed how many production slots will be offered.

Final pricing has not been announced, but Ford said it expects the starting price for a standard Mustang GTD to be around $325,000. Buyers who want to get the most out of their Mustang will have to opt for the Performance and Lightweight packages.

Whatever time the Mustang GTD sets, it will likely be surpassed by Chevrolet's new Corvette ZR1, which will arrive in 2025; the ZR1 has a top output of 1,064 hp and a top speed of 233 mph.