Nearly every major automaker on the face of the planet tests their cars at the perilous 12.9-mile Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany. Chevrolet set a new performance benchmark for big American pony cars at the circuit known famously as ‘The Green Hell’ when they put their 3,800 lb Camaro Z/28 around the track in 7:37.47, but Ford has reportedly topped their crosstown rivals.
The Mustang Shelby GT350R, just one of the three major performance debuts the Blue Oval celebrated at this past North American International Auto Show in Detroit, is serious business. Between its 500+ horsepower 5.2-liter flat plane crank V8, aggressive aerodynamics kit and carbon-fiber wheels, we could tell right away Ford was gunning for the track-star Z/28. A new report from Evo magazine indicates they’ve succeeded, after lapping the ‘Ring in 7:32.19.
That said, there is some controversy here.
For one, the source for this claim is unknown, and video evidence has yet to be seen, but the hottest sixth-gen Mustang yet seems to have all the right hardware for track day duty. Ford ditched the rear seats and stereo in the GT350R, along with the air-conditioning, and also added sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires and aggressive aerodynamic pieces. These are similar to the modifications Chevy applied to their Z/28, all in a package which could potentially weigh less than 3,500 lbs.
And there is another counterpoint to the claim that the 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R being quicker around the world’s most notorious race track. The Camaro guys have been open with saying that the Z/28 is entirely capable of putting itself around the ‘Ring faster than in 7 minutes and 37 seconds, which was done in the rain. In fact, the Camaro Z/28 is said to have ran the Nürburgring in 7:31 in the dry, but the cameras weren’t rolling so “it didn’t count.”
Comments
But, did they do this in the Rain like the Z/28 or was this an Extremely Perfect Condition Run???? 😉
A good point which I meant to add in originally. Thanks for reminding me. It’s often hard for manufacturers to get in perfect, uninterupted lap times at the ‘Ring. Not everything always goes to plan, so I think Chevrolet took what they could get with the rainy lap.
No ford gm. which is the subject of GM in the forum. While this new Mustang like it very much, and especially in this version. this new Mustang is also Ford’s new policy as a model of the fort, and a few more that will come. New Ford Focus RS must also be global.
However, it is the Nürburgring race in a very difficult subject. This is of course an interesting topic but it has so many different factors. and run in different circles of the various periods of time. This is just one of the time.
ever, we do not know what condition, the machines. But it’s good advertising.
major promotional events such as the SEAT Leon Cupra and the renault megan rs has been cheating on you do not have the time at the start of races immediately above. ie factory condition, then the machines have not been.
At other times of a real organization should check the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s similar. and transit time to be sure the machine head of a neutral pilot.
current times through the heart, the liver can not be nice, although, of course, when a machine running a good time, and no one wins. the times they are taken too seriously but has no control.
something that is quite an ideal option but also not quite sure.
Table and comparison of lap times. and the head of one of the professionals in.
one of the car is good and the other bad one circuit to another car and vice versa
renault megan rs race.basically f1 Formula One team to help. and the driver is also a winner. such matters can be taken into account thousands of different things. whether the machine is in production or prototype. if the machine has a large number of production. and so on
I understand the appeal of Nurburgring, but the problem with The Ring is the aforementioned limitations, especially if you have to ship a vehicle in like companies not located in Europe. Heck, you could end up like that beautiful Yellow Z/06 and crash. If manufacturers are serious about utilizing this track for times, why not pool together to buy track time for a day once a month or quarter or something. Alas, the name of the game is to be on top and to post this time or that time and there is nothing really official about it. We know the Mustang GT with the Track Pack isn’t as good as the Camaro SS 1LE (all things being equal). Did Ford really make that many strides with the GT350R to top the Z/28 by 5 seconds? Doubtful.
second ford laptime ahhaaaaa. they must be use ford trantsit st van and better laptimes comes
i like Sabine Schmitz to
If this is true, then the new muscle car king has been crowned; at least until the sixth gen Z/28 arrives! I am a true fan of the sixth gen ‘Stang, and this GT350R looks to annihilate the exotics! Just like the mighty Z/28! I could care less which is faster! What’s important to me is that such performance bargains are American bred and on the market!
Your move, GM.
Why not? Every record is to be broken. But still we need the video evidence. Then, nobody could take it from them.
I will wait for the video or true evidence. Ford has fudged numbers here before. Funny how Ford is not providing Video?
I am still waiting on the Z06 numbers.
The Z/28 time was half in the rain and did have time to pick up.
Also we have the new CTSV and Camaro times coming and both should be interesting.
It’s unlikely we will see a Z06 lap time/video any time soon, according to what the Corvette guys are saying. One crashed during an attempt, and then the rain kept them from even trying another run. Though, they enjoy pointing at its VIR lap time as a bench mark and as a number to compare with its rivals.
Hey Manoli, just going off topic, since you are a Volt Owner, what do you think about the New Volt? 😉