Of Course The 2025 Corvette ZR1 Is Going To Beat The Mustang GTD’s Nürburgring Time — Here’s Why
Ford has been basking in the light of automotive admiration this week as it celebrates becoming the first American automaker to break the seven-minute mark on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
A 2025 Ford Mustang GTD at the hands of professional endurance car racer Dirk Müller clocked a time of 6:57.685 at the 12.9-mile-long benchmark track.
That beat the 2017 Dodge Viper ACR’s time of 7:01.3 and will forever live in the record books as the first sub-seven from a U.S. make. (Sticklers will note that the car is a collaboration with Canada’s Multimatic, but we’re talking about whose name is on it and who wrote the checks.)
Ford is confident that the Mustang GTD can go even faster, as conditions weren’t perfect on the day of the attempt, and plans to bring the 815 hp coupe back to the track sometime next year. By then, it might need to take its record back.
See It: IN-CAR VIDEO FROM THE FORD MUSTANG GTD’S RECORD NÜRBURGRING LAP RELEASED
Next up from the USA is the 2025 Corvette ZR1. The 1,064 hp marvel has checked off one claim to fame by setting a 233 mph top speed record for cars from major U.S. automakers. The Corvette ZR1 has been spotted on the Nürburgring undergoing testing, but Chevrolet hasn’t confirmed if it has attempted to set an official lap time yet. It’s only comment is “stay tuned” for news.
SEE IT: GM PRESIDENT DRIVES 2025 CHEVROLET CORVETTE ZR1 TO RECORD 233 MPH TOP SPEED
It’s hardly a stretch to expect it to beat the Mustang GTDs time. Along with the horsepower advantage and a very healthy 828 lb-ft of torque to the Mustang GTD’s 664 lb-ft, the ZR1 is available with a ZTK Performance Package that has a wing and other aerodynamic elements that generate up to 1,200 pounds of downforce at high speeds.
The Mustang GTD also has tremendous downforce, although Ford hasn’t said exactly how much, plus a drag reduction system that dials it down on the straights in favor of a higher top speed that maxes out at 202 mph. The ZTK package isn’t adjustable on the fly and Chevrolet hasn’t said how it affects the Corvette ZR1’s top speed. It did say its test drivers were able to break 200 mph on the Nürburgring, but didn’t clarify the car’s configuration when it did. Regardless, the Corvette ZR1 has already come pretty close to the Mustang GTD’s time. Just not this Corvette ZR1.
Read Also: SECRET 2025 FORD MUSTANG MODEL TEASED
Chevrolet brought the front-engine 755 hp 2019 Corvette ZR1 to the track during an industry pool test session and did an unofficial lap in 7:05 during, development driver Jim Mero told Road & Track. He said it was more like 7:04 because they’d added a chicane before the start that day that slowed things down. He also wasn’t allowed a full warmup lap, so the tires weren’t at the ideal temperature as they would be on a dedicated record attempt. He hoped to go faster. Stitching together the best sector times from prior tests indicated that the Corvette ZR1 could do a perfect lap in — well, look at that — 6:57.
Read Also: YOU PROBABLY FORGOT THE 2018 CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1 SET A NÜRBURGRING RECORD
Chevrolet hasn’t released any lap times for the 2025 Corvette ZR1 from any track yet, but even the 670 hp 2023 Corvette Z06 has proven to be faster than the 2019 Corvette ZR1. During Car and Driver’s “Lightning Lap” tests at the 4.1-mile Virginia International Raceway — which is the closest there is to an American Nürburgring-style bar — the Z06’s time of 2:38.6 beat the 2019 ZR1’s 2:39.5.
The Z06 was also just behind the 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS’s 2:37.2. That same model did a 6:49.328 lap at the Nürburgring and, while there are certainly plenty of apples and oranges being juggled here, if you adjust the Z06’s 1.4-second deficit at VIR over 12.9 miles you end up with a best Nürburgring time of 6:53.7.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE AMERICAN CARS AND RACING YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Of course, it could end up being a lot more or a lot less in real life and many things can go wrong on a long lap of the ‘Ring. The only Z06 time on record is 7:10 lap by the magazine Sport Auto, but that was far from official. Even if it were, the ZR1 is bringing a lot more to the table and Chevrolet has to be feeling pretty good about beating the Mustang GTD’s time. Unless the Mustang GTD gets a better time.
Read This Next
