Ford Sets Sights on European Automakers with Mustang GTD Run at Nürburgring

The Ford Mustang GTD – the most advanced, audacious Mustang ever – is attempting to become the first American-made car to record a sub-seven-minute time at Germany’s legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife. This nearly 13-mile course includes 73 curves and was once described as “The Green Hell” by Sir Jackie Stewart, one of the best drivers motorsports have ever seen. Today, the Nürburgring is primarily known as a hotbed for sports car development, with a sub-seven-minute lap time considered the gold standard.

Standing among the best

If Mustang GTD is successful, the run would fulfill a promise made by Ford president and CEO Jim Farley when the vehicle debuted in 2023: beating the best European automakers on their turf. Only a handful of cars from Porsche and Mercedes-AMG have ever achieved sub-seven-minute lap – and soon, a Mustang could stand among them. 

The all-new 2025 Mustang GTD is the apex of Mustang engineering, and the possibility of one day placing it among the world’s elite at Nürburgring served as a guiding force in the car’s development. Its supercharged 5.2-liter V8 is capable of producing 815 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque, and the car tops out at 202 mph. It also features cutting-edge active aerodynamics, carbon-ceramic brakes, and inboard-rear suspension with semi-active dampers at all four corners, in addition to a carbon-fiber body. More than 7,500 people in North America have already applied to own the road-going version of the Mustang GTD.

How to watch

Mustang GTD, which recently made its first public run at the legendary Goodwood Festival of Speed, was created by a small, elite team. Ford is documenting its attempt at history with a film, “The Road to the Ring,” which follows the team and the challenges it faces as Ford attempts to accomplish something no other American automaker has ever done. 

A teaser for the documentary has just been released. The full film will be released later this month, followed by a live Q&A for Ford employees featuring key members of the Mustang GTD team on Oct. 31. Integral figures, including driver Dirk Müller and members of the Mustang GTD engineering and design team, will be answering your questions and giving the inside story of the challenge at Nürburgring.