When Ford set the mark for its first attempt with the Mustang GTD at the Nürburgring, it set an impressive time of 6:52.072 and took a Pre-Production Class record (for a little bit). But after the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X beat the Blue Oval’s best by a few seconds, Ford determined it was time for an update. And what an update it is. The company won’t keep this performance locked away from potential owners, either.
To say it smashed its previous time is quite an understatement. In the hands of pro racing driver Dirk Müller, a tuned and updated Mustang GTD Competition went out and stopped the clock at 6:40.835 on the Green Hell. That time didn’t just beat the previous Mustang GTD record but also bettered the Corvette ZR1X by more than 8 seconds. It also placed the GTD Competition as the sixth-fastest time at the Nürburgring under the Pre-Production/Prototype Class leaderboard.
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The changes to the car aren’t simple. The new Ford Mustang GTD Competition’s 5.2-liter supercharged V-8 was retuned to make more than the standard GTD’s 815 horsepower, though the Blue Oval didn’t reveal the exact power figure. The aerodynamics are improved, too, as the rear wing is changed to reduce drag in DRS mode. Meanwhile, the GTD team added secondary front dive planes and rear carbon-fiber wheel-aero discs. Weight is lowered thanks to the use of a brand-new set of magnesium wheels, a new set of carbon-fiber seats, and a lighter suspension damper system. Tire grip is also increased with a new set of high-performance rubber (Ford didn’t specify the spec), all to make the GTD Competition faster than ever before.
Even better, this isn’t a one-off vehicle. Ford has already announced that the Mustang GTD Competition will be a part of the next set of Mustang GTDs going up for sale. Applications to own the ultimate Mustang are open once again and will be a part of the celebration of the 62nd birthday of the original pony car. Pricing and availability have not been announced yet, but we’ll let you know as soon as Ford gives us those details.
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