See How The Ford Mustang GTD Beat Its Own American Nurburgring Record

Last August, Ford officially became the first American automaker to successfully lap the Nurburgring in under seven minutes, the Mustang GTD managing the feat in less-than-ideal conditions. But Ford vowed to go back and do even better, and this year, it did so, shaving off a further 5.5 seconds to lap the Green Hell in 6:52.092. But it wasn’t just the conditions that changed for the better. Ford reviewed the calibrations of the ultimate track-ready Mustang, improving the powertrain, aerodynamics, and software controlling the braking and traction control systems. Now, Ford has shared a behind-the-scenes look at how it achieved the improved lap time, with a side-by-side video comparison of the two laps, which you can watch below.

Base Trim Engine: 5.2L Supercharged V8 Gas
Base Trim Transmission: 8-speed Dual-clutch transaxle Automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain: Rear-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower: 815 hp
Base Trim Torque: 664 lb-ft

Like A Gran Turismo Ghost Of The Green Hell

The video doesn’t show the full telemetry – Ford will no doubt keep that info close to its chest – but it does show side-by-side footage of the two laps, allowing us to compare speeds at certain points on the track. At certain points, the footage merges to show a single viewpoint of the 2024 lap, with the 2025 effort ghosted over the top, much like the ghost of a perfect lap from Gran Turismo taunting average gamers’ inability to do better. And taunt it does; at the 5:27 mark in the video, you can see the 2025 lap car a full corner ahead of the original lap, around 500 feet ahead. That distance kept growing, and down the last straight section, the 2025 car was over 1,600 feet ahead.

Onboard Video Proves The Mustang GTD Is America’s Nürburgring King

Watch the halo Mustang take the Green Hell’s corners with brutal precision.

We’ll wait for the Nürburgring experts to fully dissect it, but one thing is clear: simple calibration changes and improved conditions gave Ford the edge in 2025, allowing the brand to eke out those precious seconds where it mattered most. Will it be able to do better still? We don’t know, maybe. The Mustang GTD is already an American hero, managing to do what no Chevrolet or Dodge has ever done around the famous circuit.

Ford Faces Stiff Competition From Fellow American Rivals

For now, the Mustang GTD deserves all the praise heaped upon it. Some might argue that a 911 GT3 with less power and a manual gearbox was almost as quick as the 815-horsepower supercharged pony car with real racing pedigree, but Ford has still done what no other American automaker has done before. However, it might not be the only American manufacturer to nail a sub-7 lap.

Nurburgring

Location: Nürburg, Germany
Length: 12.944 miles / 20.832 km
No. of Corners: 73
Lowest Point: Breidscheid, 1,050 ft. above sea level
Highest Point: Hohe Acht, 2,024 ft. above sea level
Elevation Change: 974 ft.
Production Lap Record: 6:29.09

The new Corvette ZR1 has been undergoing testing at the Nürburgring and is expected to attempt a lap record. With 1,064 hp from a twin-turbo flat-plane crank V8, it outguns the GTD on power, and even fully loaded, it’s significantly cheaper than the Mustang GTD sans options. Another mid-engined American hypercar is also eyeing a potential assault on the famous German circuit, with Hennessey confirming it was heading to the Nürburgring this year for testing of the Venom F5, where it wouldn’t rule out a potential lap attempt.