Behind the Scenes of Mustang GTD's Record-Breaking Nürburgring Lap

Ford introduced the Mustang GTD, a supercar that builds on the rich legacy of the Mustang. Driven by the talented Dirk Müller, this impressive vehicle achieved a remarkable feat at the Nürburgring circuit, often referred to as “The Green Hell.” The Mustang GTD lapped the challenging track in an officially certified time of 6:57:685, making it the fifth fastest stock production sports car to complete this notorious track. This extraordinary accomplishment places the Mustang GTD alongside only five other vehicles that have successfully broken the seven-minute barrier.

Ford's ambitions were clear during the car’s debut. Jim Farley, President and CEO, expressed the innovative spirit behind Mustang GTD. He stated, “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.” Farley underlined the historic nature of this achievement for American automakers but hinted that this was only the beginning, indicating that Ford plans to push the boundaries even further.

The success of the Mustang GTD at the Nürburgring is a result of intense dedication from a focused team of engineers and designers over two years. Their goal was to transform the Mustang GT3 race car into a thrilling supercar capable of delivering standout performance. This challenging project incorporated insights from Ford’s rich motorsport history into a high-performance machine designed for both the track and everyday driving.

To highlight this thrilling journey, Ford released a 13-minute documentary titled The Road To The Ring. This film chronicles the challenges, excitement, and breakthroughs experienced by the team as they prepared for their record-setting run. With stunning visuals, it captures various development sessions at celebrated tracks, including Sebring, demonstrating the testing and refinements essential to the Mustang GTD’s success.

Viewers can watch The Road To The Ring on Ford.com, the Ford YouTube channel, or Facebook. Key figures, including Jim Farley, Dirk Müller, Chief Technical Officer Larry Holt, and Program Engineer Greg Goodall, share their insights. These perspectives provide an inside look into the collaborative efforts that shaped the Mustang GTD, showcasing the design and engineering processes that led to its record-breaking performance.

The Mustang GTD’s success at the Nürburgring embodies valuable lessons derived from the Ford Performance Motorsports and Multimatic Motorsports programs. Key advancements in aerodynamics, such as a drag coefficient of just 0.30, and enhanced suspension setups have elevated the GTD's performance, ensuring it stands out in the competitive supercar landscape. For instance, the incorporation of an adjustable rear wing improves downforce, giving drivers better control at high speeds.

The remarkable triumph of the Mustang GTD at the Nürburgring marks a significant chapter in automotive history, showcasing the creativity and hard work of the team behind this supercar. With an eye on future challenges, Ford is eager to return to the Nürburgring and continue pushing the limits of what the Mustang can achieve.

As the automotive sector continues to evolve, the Mustang GTD represents a bold statement of American engineering and unwavering dedication to performance. For enthusiasts and fans, the journey of the Mustang GTD is only just beginning, hinting at thrilling developments in the motorsports arena.

Aerial view of the challenging Nürburgring circuit where the Mustang GTD set its record.