2025 Ford Mustang GTD makes history

The 2025 Ford Mustang GTD has become the first American performance car to achieve a sub-seven-minute lap of the infamous Nürburgring, clocking an official time of 6:57.685.

By completing a lap time under seven minutes at the world's ultimate performance car benchmarking road-course, the Mustang GTD bested the Porsche 911 GT3's (992-generation) 6:59.93 lap time in 2020 around the gruelling 20.8km circuit in Germany.

Although it should be noted that the 911 GT3 is a more affordable vehicle. The wild Mustang on the other hand is not available in Australia... at least not yet.

Driven by former Le Mans 24 Hours winner Dirk Müller, the insane $508,000 (US$325,000) Mustang's scorching lap time puts it in exulted company, closing in on supercars like the Porsche 911 GT3 RS (6:49.328) and Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series (6:48.047).

The Ford Mustang GTD cements it's place as the fastest and most powerful production Mustang built to date... but Ford's big boss reckons the supercharged V8 monster can go faster.

“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,” declared Ford President and CEO, Jim Farley.

“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,” he said.

Claimed to have been entirely stock, the car that set the sub-seven-minute lap featured a five-point harness seat and roll cage required for official hot laps.

The GTD’s gestation from Mustang GT3 racer into the first-ever Mustang supercar is said to have taken just two years, with the journey documented in a 13-minute ‘The Road to the Ring’ documentary produced by Ford.

Providing a behind-the-scenes look at the testing and preparation, viewers get to see the dramas and excitement behind both the hot lap as well as the vehicle’s development.

Powered by a supercharged 5.2-litre V8 engine that churns out 608kW/900Nm, the GTD has more kilowatts-per-litre than the latest Porsche 911 GT3 RS, mustering a mighty 115.3kW-per-litre, compared to the German 4.0-litre flat-six’s 95.3kW-per-litre.

Its V8 also features a racer’s dry-sump lubrication, which is needed for the sustained high-speed cornering involved in hot-lapping, and can rev to 7650rpm – 100rpm higher than any previous Mustang.

A revised intake, full titanium exhaust and a smaller supercharger pulley ensure the sharpest of responses and sees the ‘Stang supercar deliver a glorious soundtrack.

Other standout features include trick inboard-rear suspension, carbon-ceramic brakes, lightweight magnesium wheels and advanced active aerodynamics.

The latter includes an advanced?F1-style drag reduction system (DRS)?that changes the angle of the rear wing and alters flaps under the body to help 325km/h without totally eliminating the downforce needed to stay stable at such speeds.

Helping handling further is an optimum 50:50 weight distribution.

Sadly, the Ford Mustang GTD is off-limits for Australia and will not be available in right-hand drive.

In the UK, where it can be sold left-hook, the GTD has been tipped to be priced from £315,000 ($A620,000).

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au