The Ford Transit SuperVan 4.2 Nürburgring lap will go down as one of those moments that car enthusiasts talk about for years. What began as a cheeky challenge on TV has now evolved into a headline-making achievement, blending motorsport engineering with the unlikeliest of heroes: a Transit.
From Top Gear Legend to Reality
The story starts with a famous episode of Top Gear. Jeremy Clarkson had just managed a sub-ten-minute lap around the Nürburgring in a Jaguar. Sabine Schmitz, known as the Queen of the ’Ring, then made her bold claim: “I can do that faster in a Transit.” That comment turned into one of the most iconic challenges in TV car history. For Ford, it also planted a seed, one that finally bloomed with the latest SuperVan.
Meet the Ford Transit SuperVan 4.2
The van that took on the Nürburgring is no ordinary workhorse. The Ford Transit SuperVan 4.2 is a bespoke electric prototype delivering an astonishing 2,000 horsepower. Built for the sole purpose of exploring the limits of performance, it has already made headlines at Bathurst and conquered Pikes Peak. The Nürburgring, however, was always the mountain Ford Performance wanted to climb.
Why Build a Van for the ’Ring?
You might ask why Ford would send a Transit to the Green Hell. The answer lies in experimentation. The SuperVan program gives engineers freedom to push beyond traditional race car rules. It’s a test bed for radical ideas in aerodynamics, electric performance, and chassis tuning. Insights gained from projects like this don’t stay on the track; they influence future race cars and even road-going EVs.
Power and Performance at the Nürburgring
With professional driver Romain Dumas at the wheel, the Ford Transit SuperVan 4.2 ripped around the circuit in just 6:48.393. That makes it the ninth fastest car ever to post a timed lap. For perspective, this van lapped quicker than a Porsche 911 GT3 RS and the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X. Yes, it rides on slicks and was designed purely for speed, but it remains incredible that a Transit is in such elite company.
Honoring a Motorsport Icon
This achievement isn’t only about numbers. It also carries an emotional weight. Sabine Schmitz’s famous Transit challenge is part of what made the idea so compelling in the first place. Setting this record at her home track honors her legacy and keeps her fearless spirit alive in the story of the SuperVan.
What Comes Next
Ford isn’t stopping here. Alongside the Transit, the team also tested the F-150 Lightning SuperTruck at the ’Ring. That hints at even bigger electric performance projects on the horizon. For now, though, the focus is on celebrating a lap that rewrote what a van can do, and on remembering the driver who inspired it all.
Summary
The Ford Transit SuperVan 4.2 Nürburgring record is proof that bold ideas can deliver breathtaking results. It started as a joke on TV but ended with a 2,000-horsepower van outrunning some of the world’s fastest supercars. It’s fast, it’s fearless, and it’s a fitting tribute to Sabine Schmitz.
Disclaimer: The Ford Transit SuperVan 4.2 is a one-off prototype and not a production vehicle.
Source: Ford
