Mustang GTD Has Outshined Any Other Car from an American Brand at the Nürburgring

The Mustang GTD has delivered on its bold promise, conquering the Nürburgring in under seven minutes with a stunning lap time of 6:57.685 around the challenging 12.9-mile, 73-turn circuit

Germany's legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife stands as the pinnacle of sports car testing. In a groundbreaking achievement, the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD has become the first American vehicle to conquer a lap in under seven minutes.

Piloted by Multimatic Motorsports' ace driver Dirk Müller, the 815-horsepower Mustang GTD completed the challenging course, famously known as "The Green Hell," with an officially recorded time of 6:57:685. This remarkable feat places it as the fifth fastest among stock production sports cars, according to the Nürburgring's official records, and marks the Mustang GTD as only the sixth car in its category to shatter the seven-minute mark.

This impressive time fulfills the ambitious target set by CEO Jim Farley during the Mustang GTD's unveiling in August 2023.

The team responsible for the Mustang GTD harnessed decades of racing experience to create a Mustang that stands toe-to-toe with the finest supercars in the world, stated Jim Farley, Ford's President and CEO. "We take pride in being the first American manufacturer to produce a car that can conquer the Nürburgring in under seven minutes, yet our ambition doesn't stop there. We believe there’s still more time to shave off with the Mustang GTD. We’ll return to the challenge."

The remarkable achievement of the Mustang GTD at the Nürburgring is a testament to the relentless efforts of a small, passionate group of engineers and designers who dedicated two years to transform the Mustang GT3 race car into the inaugural Mustang supercar. Ford chronicled this journey leading up to the Nürburgring time trial in a 13-minute documentary titled The Road To The Ring, which captures the challenges, tensions, and thrills of developing the Mustang GTD.

This documentary, accessible on Ford.com, the Ford YouTube channel, and Facebook, offers an exclusive glimpse into the rigorous testing of the Mustang GTD, showcasing everything from legendary American tracks like Sebring to intense development sessions at the Nürburgring. It features insights from Farley, Muller, Multimatic Chief Technical Officer Larry Holt, Mustang GTD Chief Program Engineer Greg Goodall, and Mustang GTD Design Manager Anthony Colard, along with other key members of the Ford and Multimatic teams.

The Mustang GTD stands as the pinnacle of Mustang performance, drawing on invaluable insights from the Ford Performance Motorsports and Multimatic Motorsports Mustang GT3 program, particularly in the realms of aerodynamics and track setup for challenging circuits like the Nürburgring. Unlike its GT3 counterparts, the Mustang GTD is not bound by the stringent rules and regulations that limit the use of advanced technologies, which are essential for achieving a sub-seven-minute lap at the Nürburgring.

This freedom allows for the incorporation of features such as carbon-ceramic brakes, active aerodynamics, a supercharger, and semi-active suspension. While the carbon-fiber body is a familiar sight from GT3 racing, the Mustang GTD that achieved the remarkable sub-seven-minute lap was completely stock, albeit equipped with motorsport-grade safety features required for Nürburgring racing. These include a competition seat with a five-point harness and a robust roll cage.

Nick Cavanaugh | @Car_Sick_Nick | All Roads Lead to The Motor City