To shave more than 11 seconds off Mustang GTD’s previous 6:52.072 Nürburgring Production Class benchmark, the team relentlessly focused on three key areas:
- More Power: Hardware updates and aggressive tuning push Mustang GTD Competition’s supercharged 5.2-liter V8 to a targeted engine output beyond the original Mustang GTD’s 815 horsepower
- Advanced Aerodynamics: Building on the existing Drag Reduction System (DRS), the Mustang GTD Competition adds rear wing modifications, secondary front dive planes, and rear carbon fiber aero discs to increase total downforce without sacrificing efficiency or aero balance
- Increased Grip: New high-performance tires
- Weight Reduction: New magnesium wheels, new carbon bucket seats, lighter damper system and additional actions help reduce weight
The Human Element Behind The Lap
But the stopwatch only tells half the story. The 6:40.8 lap is a testament to the technical wizardry and focused willpower of the Ford Racing Mustang GTD team.
Mission accomplished was not simply a result of better hardware; it was the product of a team that refused to compromise, driven by the dedication of engineers Peter Kuechler, Sam Ashtiani, and Steve Thompson, among others.
“You don’t run a 6:40 at the Nürburgring on hardware alone,” said Rushbrook. “The GTD Competition is the direct result of pouring our hardest-learned motorsport lessons into a street car, backed by a team of engineers who sacrificed their nights and holidays to squeeze out every possible millisecond.”
Proving just how capable the Mustang GTD Competition is, Ford Racing engineer Steve Thompson also piloted the GTD Competition to a time of 6:49.337 around the Nürburgring – faster than Müller’s original record.
