Ford Breaks Nürburgring Production Car Record
▼ Summary
– The Ford GT Mk IV set a new Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record for production cars with a time of 6:15.997, driven by Frédéric Vervisch.
– The Nürburgring was originally built during the Great Depression to create jobs and serve as a test track for Germany’s car industry.
– The track is notoriously difficult, nicknamed the “Green Hell” due to its length, elevation changes, and numerous corners.
– Only two vehicles, the Volkswagen ID.R and Porsche 919 Evo, have posted faster lap times this century, though they are not production cars.
– The Ford GT Mk IV was developed in collaboration with Multimatic and is now the fastest production car available for purchase that has lapped the track.
In the world of high-performance automobiles, few achievements carry as much weight as a record lap at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Ford now holds that prestigious title. The company has announced its Ford GT Mk IV, a further evolution of its mid-engined supercar, has set a new benchmark for production cars at the legendary German circuit. Professional driver Frédéric Vervisch piloted the car to a blistering time of 6 minutes, 15.997 seconds over the 12.9-mile (20.8-km) track.
This historic venue, constructed in Germany’s Eifel region nearly a century ago, was originally a public works project during the Great Depression. It also served as a vital proving ground for the nation’s automotive industry. While it hosts professional races, the track remains open for public driving, offering a unique and daunting experience.
That experience is famously challenging. The circuit’s nickname, the Green Hell, is well-earned. Drivers face extreme elevation changes, a seemingly endless sequence of corners, and a surface that is both narrow and uneven. Gaining true comfort on this track requires immense skill and countless laps of practice.
This context makes Vervisch’s performance even more remarkable. A veteran who has won the Nürburgring 24 Hour race, his new lap time in the GT Mk IV is now the fourth-fastest ever recorded on the Nordschleife. Only two purpose-built race cars from this century have gone quicker: the all-electric Volkswagen ID. R and the hybrid Porsche 919 Evo. The Ford’s time also surpasses the legendary 1983 qualifying lap set by Stefan Bellof in a Porsche 956. Since Bellof’s run was during a qualifying session, Ford can officially claim its new supercar holds the third-fastest lap time in the track’s history, and the absolute fastest for a vehicle you can actually purchase.
The record-breaking Ford GT was developed through a collaboration between Ford and engineering firm Multimatic. This latest achievement reinforces the model’s legacy as a technological showcase and a dominant force on the world’s most demanding racetrack.
(Source: Ars Technica)