Fast forward to 2026, Ford is now reclaiming the title for the Lord of the \u2019Ring among American cars with a bonkers lap time of 6 minutes and 40.835 seconds. Not only is it an impressive 11 seconds faster than the Mustang GTD\u2019s previous best run<\/a>, but it also beats the Corvette ZR1X by more than eight seconds. As you can imagine, the record-breaking run wasn\u2019t achieved with the same car, but rather a thoroughly upgraded version.<\/p>\n Dubbed the Mustang GTD Competition, the extreme version uses an evolution of the supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine with more power than the standard car\u2019s 815-hp output. Additionally, Ford<\/a> installed new magnesium wheels, carbon bucket seats, and lighter dampers to reduce weight by an unspecified amount. For reference, a standard Mustang GTD weighs 4,404 pounds (1,998 kilograms).<\/p>\n The Mustang GTD Competition\u2019s body has undergone several changes further to improve aerodynamic performance, including an updated rear wing. Additional front dive planes and rear carbon-fiber aero discs boost downforce, helping keep the car glued to the road on newly developed tires that deliver better grip.<\/p>\n As with the first two runs, the record-breaking car was piloted by Ford Performance and Multimatic factory driver Dirk M\u00fcller.<\/p>\n A street-legal production version with the upgrades mentioned earlier will follow \u201cin strictly limited, serialized quantities.\u201d There\u2019s no word on the price yet, but expect to pay a premium over the regular Mustang GTD\u2019s $327,960 sticker. As a refresher, a Corvette ZR1X<\/a> starts at a far more reasonable $223,195.<\/p>\n Coinciding with the new record, Ford has reopened the application window for the regular Mustang GTD. The hotter Competition version will follow at a later date.<\/p>\n Lest we forget, Ford also holds the record for the fastest track-only American car at the Nordschleife. The GT Mk IV recently completed a blistering lap in 6 minutes and 15.977 seconds<\/a>, making it the third-fastest car overall after the Volkswagen ID. R and the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo. At the same time, the GT Mk IV is the fastest combustion-engine-only car to lap the iconic German track.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5 <\/p>\n \n Source: Ford <\/p>\n Motor1’s Take:\u00a0It\u2019s impressive how Ford keeps squeezing more performance out of the Mustang<\/a> platform. Then again, there\u2019s likely not much left from the original car, since the GTD is essentially a ground-up build with a Mustang body. Of course, this comes at a steep price. While a base Mustang starts at $35,330, it wouldn\u2019t be surprising if the GTD Competition ends up roughly 10 times more expensive.<\/p>\n While some would argue that these N\u00fcrburgring lap times don\u2019t really matter in the grand scheme of things, it\u2019s interesting to see Ford and Chevy one-up each other. Whether the Corvette team will fight back remains unclear, especially since the C8 lineup has already been fully fleshed out<\/a>.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Mercedes likely isn\u2019t worried about losing its N\u00fcrburgring crown to an American brand anytime soon. The AMG One hypercar remains the undisputed leader with a lap time of 6:29.09. However, competition could emerge from within Germany, as Porsche is reportedly developing a new 911 GT2 RS<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n \t\tWe want your opinion!\n\t<\/p>\n What would you like to see on Motor1.com?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
![\"Ford](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/16x9-tr.png\")
<\/p>\n