Ford just podiumed at the Nurburgring, but not in any sort of wheel-to-wheel race. With a time of 6:15.977 (as confirmed by the ‘ring’s own record-keepers), the fourth-gen Ford GT just leapfrogged the Mercedes AMG One and the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X to become the third-fastest car ever to lap the track.
The only cars to ever do it quicker are the Porsche 919 Hybrid EVO and VW ID.R, which highlights a few things Ford is quite proud of. The GT’s 6:15 lap makes it the fastest pure internal combustion car on the list—and far and away the fastest American one. It’s also the fastest car you can actually buy; good luck getting your hands on either of the Germans.
Ford Racing factory driver Frédéric Vervisch laid the lap down yesterday, but waited until today—April 2nd—to share the story, lest anybody wonder whether this was a genuine effort, rather than some attempt at an April Fool’s gag teasing a forthcoming GT revival.
To be clear, it isn’t, but if you’re suddenly feeling like this could all be a game of 4D chess, you’re not alone. For the time being, let’s just be content to feast our eyes and ears on these nostalgia-inducing pics and lap video of the Mk IV Ford GT pounding around the ‘ring in record time, shall we?
Ford’s 6:15 not only puts it in third place overall, but gives team blue an extra juicy W over its cross-town rivals at Corvette. The out-of-production GT logged its time in the same prototype class as the ZR1X, giving it a rare like-for-like victory. The AMG One ran in the road-legal Super Sports class, logging a 6:29.
It was an impressive outing for a car that Ford no longer sells or actively campaigns, and we’re certain it’s no coincidence that we’re hearing rumors of Ford having upset the ZR1X with its Mustang GTD. The first win in that contest went to Chevy, and the rivalry between them only seems to be getting more intense.
Looking at the bigger picture, VW’s 6:05 lap in the ID.R doesn’t appear to be in imminent danger of falling any time soon, though Ford notes the weather was unusually cold for the Mk IV GT’s record-setting session on Monday. Porsche’s 5:19 lap in the 919 Hybrid Evo is blisteringly untouchable in first.
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