Ford Mustang GTD Competition Sets Nürburgring Lap Record

The new track-focused Mustang model beats the Corvette ZR1X's time around the famous German circuit.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:00pm

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An abstract, motion-blurred illustration of a Ford Mustang GTD Competition racing at high speed on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, with vibrant streaks of color representing the car's dynamic movement.The Ford Mustang GTD Competition's record-breaking Nürburgring lap time underscores the automaker's commitment to building high-performance, track-focused sports cars.Indianapolis Today

Ford has unveiled a new, more extreme version of its Mustang GTD called the GTD Competition, which has just set a new Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record for a production car. With a time of 6:40.835, the GTD Competition is now the second-fastest production car to ever lap the famous German circuit, behind only the Mercedes-AMG One hypercar.

Why it matters

The Mustang GTD Competition's record-breaking lap time at the Nürburgring demonstrates Ford's continued commitment to building high-performance, track-focused versions of its iconic Mustang sports car. This will likely reignite the ongoing rivalry between Ford and Chevrolet, as the Mustang has now surpassed the lap times set by the Corvette ZR1 and ZR1X models.

The details

The GTD Competition features a number of upgrades over the standard GTD model, including an unknown increase in horsepower from the supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine, revised aerodynamics with a modified rear wing and front dive planes, new tires, and weight-saving measures like magnesium wheels and carbon bucket seats. These changes have resulted in a significant 11-second improvement over the standard GTD's previous Nürburgring lap time of 6:52.072.

  • The GTD Competition's record-setting lap was set on April 17, 2026.
  • The standard Mustang GTD previously held a Nürburgring lap time of 6:52.072.

The players

Ford

The American automaker that developed the Mustang GTD Competition model.

Dirk Müller

The factory Mustang GT3 driver who set the record-breaking lap time for the GTD Competition.

Steve Thompson

The Ford Racing engineer who also set a Nürburgring lap time of 6:49.337 in the GTD Competition, just shy of the Corvette ZR1X's record.

Jim Farley

The CEO of Ford, who stated that the Mustang GTD was 'always meant to bridge the worlds between GT3 race cars and street-legal supercars.'

Drew Cattell

The GM engineer who previously set a Nürburgring lap record of 6:49.275 in the Corvette ZR1X.

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What they’re saying

“When we said, 'Game On,' we meant it. Mustang GTD was always meant to bridge the worlds between GT3 race cars and street-legal supercars, and the GTD Competition takes this to the next level to continue keeping Europe's elite up at night.”

— Jim Farley, CEO, Ford

What’s next

Ford says the Mustang GTD Competition 'will only be offered in the future as a special edition, street legal model available in strictly limited, serialized quantities.' The company has also announced that it will reopen orders for the standard Mustang GTD model today.

The takeaway

The Mustang GTD Competition's record-breaking Nürburgring lap time solidifies Ford's position as a serious contender in the high-performance sports car market, challenging the dominance of European and American rivals like the Corvette. This new track-focused Mustang model demonstrates Ford's continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of what's possible with its iconic pony car.