The Ford Mustang GTD has crushed its earlier Nürburgring lap time, cementing its place because the quickest US-made automobile and the fifth quickest manufacturing automobile across the legendary German observe.
The Mustang GTD – a road-registrable, track-focussed model of the legendary Pony automobile – lopped a major 5.5 seconds off its earlier finest, posting a 6:52.071 time over the 20.8km Nordschleife format.
When it comes to manufacturing automobiles, solely the Mercedes-AMG One (6:29.090), Porsche 911 GT2 RS with Manthey Efficiency Package (6:43.300), Mercedes-AMG Black Collection (6:29.090) and Porsche 911 GT3 RS (6:49.328) have gone sooner.
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The sooner lap time noticed the Ford soar the Porsche 911 GT3 with Manthey Efficiency Package to formally turn into the fourth-fastest manufacturing automobile across the ‘Ring.
The carmaker stated the sooner lap got here courtesy of a recalibrated powertrain, stiffer chassis, retuned ABS and traction management settings, in addition to minor physique modifications to refine the GTD’s aero bundle.
There was additionally time left on the desk for Mustang GTD’s second run, given efforts at its 2024 go to to the circuit have been hampered by altering climate circumstances limiting Ford manufacturing facility driver Dirk Muller.
The Nürburgring Nordschleife, situated within the Eifel Mountains, is utilized by carmakers globally to develop autos, its spectacular size greater than triple the space round Mount Panorama, Bathurst, in Australia.
The German circuit’s big selection of various nook sorts throughout its undulating format serves up a real check for automobile dynamics, punishing automobile brakes, steering, suspension and tyres.
Revealed in early 2024, the GT3-inspired Mustang GTD made its racing debut eventually 12 months’s 24 Hours of Le Mans and took its first victory on the Rolex 24 at Daytona endurance race in January 2025.
Street-car manufacturing of the Mustang GTD is about to kick off by the center of 2025 because it hits US showrooms at round $US300,000 ($A465,000).
Ford has confirmed the GTD will solely be made in left-hand drive and subsequently gained’t be offered in Australia.
The Ford Mustang was Australia’s hottest sports activities automobile from 2016 to 2022, overtaken by the Subaru BRZ in 2023 and relegated to 3rd after the BMW 2 Collection toppled the BRZ in 2024.