Ford Mustang GTD Targets Porsche 911 GT3 RS with New Nürburgring Lap Time
By Team Dailyrevs May 2, 2025
Lap Time Breakthrough: The GTD shaved five seconds off its previous time, finishing the Nürburgring in 6:52.72.
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Performance Engineering: Purpose-built with carbon components, active aero, and a rear transaxle.
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Global Statement: Ford aims to position the GTD alongside Europe’s most respected performance machines.
The Nürburgring: Still the Global Benchmark
For performance car manufacturers, the Nürburgring remains the most telling metric. It’s a place where engineering, balance, and outright speed are tested without bias. Ford’s 2025 Mustang GTD now has a place on that leaderboard—with a lap time that firmly puts it in elite company.
At 6:52.72, the GTD has eclipsed some serious names. But this isn’t just about lap time. It’s about proving that Ford can engineer a machine that meets the most demanding standards in global performance circles.
The Mustang, Reimagined for Purpose
The GTD isn’t a special trim level. It’s a clean-sheet project aimed at the track—specifically, the Nürburgring.
Here’s what sets it apart:
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Engine | 5.2L Supercharged V8 |
| Power Output | Estimated 800+ hp |
| Transmission | Rear-mounted transaxle with carbon fiber torque tube |
| Suspension | Multimatic-developed semi-active suspension |
| Aerodynamics | Active aero system with track-optimized downforce tuning |
| Lap Time | 6:52.72 (Improved from 6:57.68) |
| Driver | Dirk Müller (Ford factory driver) |
Engineering with Intent
Ford’s collaboration with Multimatic Motorsports—the group behind the Le Mans-winning Ford GT—has clearly paid off. The GTD benefits from technologies typically reserved for top-tier racing, like a rear-mounted transaxle, carbon-fiber torque tube, and active aerodynamics.
This layout helps achieve a near 50/50 weight distribution, which is critical for high-speed stability and cornering consistency on a track like the Nürburgring.
The car’s improved lap time wasn’t the result of a single perfect run—it came from data-informed refinements made over multiple sessions, indicating a serious approach to validation.
Not Just a Fast Ford—A Global Performance Statement
With an estimated price of $325,000, the GTD won’t be a common sight. But exclusivity wasn’t the goal here—credibility was. Ford wanted to show that it could develop a car that could stand toe-to-toe with the best performance machines the world has to offer.
That it did so at the Nürburgring—often viewed as a proving ground for German marques—adds weight to the effort.
This isn’t about nationalism or nostalgia. It’s about demonstrating what focused engineering can achieve, regardless of origin.
Final Thoughts
The Mustang GTD’s new lap time doesn’t just make headlines—it validates Ford’s claim that this car is built for the track, not just the showroom. It reflects a shift in how American performance is being perceived globally: more calculated, more sophisticated, and entirely capable.
The GTD may wear the Mustang badge, but what it just accomplished at the Nürburgring suggests it’s in a category of its own.