Let the War Begin !

[teamzr1]

The Corvette ZR1X dethroned the Ford Mustang GTD (Costs over $300,000) as the fastest American car at the 'Ring. Ford's CEO isn't being quiet about it.

The Ford Mustang GTD only held the record for the fastest American car to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife for a little over 7 months.
Ford announced a 6:57.685 lap back in December, and bettered it with a 6:52.07 a few months later, but Chevrolet just took the crown with the Corvette ZR1 and ZR1X. Ford's response? "Game on."

That came directly from CEO Jim Farley, who replied, "congrats to the Corvette team. Game on!" on an Instagram post from the official Corvette page. The Drive was the first to bring our attention to Farley's comment.

Ford could go back to the 'Ring with the Mustang GTD, but that car is at somewhat of a disadvantage to the ZR1 and ZR1X.
The Mustang GTD weighs over 4,300 pounds based on EPA documents that Road & Track reported on back in February, while Car and Driver measured the ZR1 at 3,831 pounds.
Chevy hasn't revealed a weight figure for the ZR1X, but it's reasonable to expect it to eclipse the 4,000-pound mark.

The Mustang GTD has 815 horsepower, which is a lot, but the ZR1 makes 1,064 hp, and the ZR1X ups it to 1,250 hp.
Power and weight figures aren't everything, but they do count for a ton.
Still, the GTD has a very advanced suspension system, huge Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires, and an extremely advanced aero package that includes a Formula 1-style drag-reduction system to stall the wing on straights.

We don't know if Ford has anything planned. Farley surely wants to take back the record he's a racer himself, and he's pushing performance hard with the Mustang, but Ford isn't going to go to the 'Ring unless it knows it at least has a chance of beating the Corvette's time.
There could be more time in the GTD, but Ford may also need to wait until it has its next, greatest thing to beat Chevy.

Let the War Begin !

 

[teamzr1]

The American Nürburgring war is on.

On Thursday, Chevrolet came out swinging and announced the Corvette ZR1 & ZR1X both beat the Ford Mustang GTD’s Nürburgring lap time
. It took less than two hours for Ford CEO Jim Farley to respond, “Congrats to the Corvette team. Game on,” he said.
The exchange took place on the Corvette Instagram account, where Farley just dropped in and made the comment on the announcement post.
That post, reads, “Corvette fans, we got ’em.”

It’s hard to be more crystal clear that Ford is going back to the Green Hell with the Mustang GTD to try and lap the track faster with its carbon fiber-bodied track weapon than Chevy just did with its Corvettes.

When?
That’s anyone’s guess.

But these things are logistical nightmares between getting cars and equipment over to Europe and renting the track to just praying to the weather Gods.

The Mustang GTD is a $330,000 affair. It was the first American car to cross the sub 7-minute mark at the Nürburgring, which is rarified air.
The Mustang GTD’s final lap time was 6:52.072, but that was the second attempt.
The first time the Mustang GTD team reported it broke the 7-minute barrier, the time was five seconds slower at 6:57.685.
The team shaved five seconds during its second record attempt.

The Corvette ZR1 lapped the ‘Ring in 6:50.763. The ZR1X shaved over a full second off that at 6:49.275.
The math says Team Ford needs the Mustang GTD to shave nearly 3 seconds at the next go around.

It’s worth noting at this point, the Mustang GTD is about 500 pounds heavier than the Chevy competition.
And the Corvettes were driven by Chevy engineers, not race car drivers.
The Corvettes might have more in the tank. Seems Farley believes the Mustang GTD does as well.