A Historic Achievement for American Engineering
The 2025 Ford Mustang GTD has made history, becoming the first car from an American brand to complete a lap of Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife in under seven minutes. Driven by Multimatic Motorsports driver Dirk Müller, the 815-horsepower Mustang GTD conquered the 12.9-mile, 73-turn “Green Hell” in an officially certified time of 6:57.685. This extraordinary performance places it as the fifth fastest stock production sports car according to the Nürburgring’s records and only the sixth to break the seven-minute barrier in its class.
Engineering Excellence and Global Inspiration
Ford President and CEO Jim Farley described the achievement as a testament to Ford’s commitment to world-class performance:
“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. 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.”
The Road to the Record
The Mustang GTD is the culmination of two years of rigorous engineering, transforming the Mustang GT3 race car into a groundbreaking production supercar. The vehicle’s success is credited to a small, dedicated team of Ford and Multimatic engineers who pushed the boundaries of Mustang performance.
Mustang GTD benefits from advanced technologies not constrained by the regulations of GT3 racing. Key features include carbon-ceramic brakes, active aerodynamics, semi-active suspension, and a carbon-fiber body, all contributing to its sub-seven-minute lap. While the record-setting car was stock, it incorporated Nürburgring-mandated safety gear such as a competition seat with a five-point harness and a roll cage.
Behind the Scenes: “The Road to the Ring”
Ford has documented the journey to this historic lap in The Road to the Ring, a 13-minute documentary film now streaming on Ford.com, YouTube, Facebook, and other platforms. The film offers a behind-the-scenes look at Mustang GTD’s testing and development, featuring insights from Farley, Müller, Multimatic Chief Technical Officer Larry Holt, Chief Program Engineer Greg Goodall, and Design Manager Anthony Colard. From American tracks like Sebring to the grueling Nürburgring, the film captures the challenges and triumphs of creating a Mustang that defies expectations.
A New Benchmark in Performance
The Mustang GTD represents the pinnacle of Mustang performance, incorporating aerodynamic and setup insights from Ford’s GT3 motorsports program. By transcending racing regulations and integrating cutting-edge technology, it sets a new benchmark not just for Ford, but for American performance cars on the global stage.
Key Highlights
- Lap Time: 6:57.685 at the Nürburgring Nordschleife
- Driver: Dirk Müller
- Powertrain: 815-horsepower V8 with advanced aerodynamics and semi-active suspension
- Notable Features: Carbon-ceramic brakes, active aerodynamics, carbon-fiber body
With the Mustang GTD’s record-breaking lap, Ford has solidified its position as a leader in the world of high-performance sports cars, showcasing what American engineering can achieve.
Source: Ford
This article was crafted with assistance from Chatgpt
