Germany’s renowned Nürburgring Nordschleife, regarded as the ultimate benchmark for sports car performance, has a new American champion. The 2025 Ford Mustang GTD has officially become the fastest production car from an American automaker to lap the 12.9-mile circuit, completing the run in an impressive 6:57.685.
Behind the wheel was Multimatic Motorsports driver Dirk Müller, who piloted the 815-horsepower Mustang GTD to a performance that marks the fifth fastest lap time for a stock production sports car on the Nürburgring’s official records. Notably, the Mustang GTD becomes only the sixth production car in history to break the seven-minute barrier on the track, known for its grueling turns and elevation changes that have earned it the nickname “The Green Hell.”
The achievement fulfills a bold target set by Ford CEO Jim Farley during the Mustang GTD’s debut in August 2023.
“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,” Farley stated. “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.”
The Mustang GTD’s success is the result of two years of dedicated engineering and design, transforming Ford’s Mustang GT3 race car into a road-legal supercar. This meticulous journey is captured in The Road to The Ring, a 13-minute documentary that offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the Mustang GTD’s development. The film features key figures, including CEO Jim Farley, driver Dirk Müller, Multimatic Chief Technical Officer Larry Holt, Mustang GTD Chief Program Engineer Greg Goodall, and Design Manager Anthony Colard. Available on Ford.com, YouTube, and Facebook, the documentary charts the Mustang GTD’s testing from iconic American circuits like Sebring to its ultimate challenge at the Nürburgring.
At the heart of the Mustang GTD’s record-breaking performance is its cutting-edge technology, free from the constraints of GT3 racing regulations. Features such as carbon-ceramic brakes, active aerodynamics, a supercharged V8 engine, and semi-active suspension all contribute to its exceptional capability. While its carbon-fiber body draws heavily from Ford’s motorsport expertise, the Nürburgring run adhered to safety requirements, incorporating a roll cage, competition seat, and a five-point harness.
The Mustang GTD embodies the pinnacle of Mustang performance, merging lessons from Ford Performance Motorsports and Multimatic’s Mustang GT3 program with road-going innovation. With this milestone, Ford has redefined what’s possible for American supercars on the world stage, cementing the Mustang GTD’s place in history.
Ford has already hinted that this is just the beginning, signaling a return to the Nürburgring with aspirations to further push the boundaries of performance.
