Ford GT Mk IV sets Nürburgring record for gasoline cars in 2024

A Machine Built for the Lap

The Ford GT Mk IV, a machine described as the "final and most extreme iteration" of the current Ford GT program, has registered a notable time around the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Its recorded lap of 6:15.977 positions it as the fastest vehicle powered solely by internal combustion to traverse the circuit. This accomplishment places it behind only two vehicles identified as "purpose-built electrified monsters" and "prototype/pre-production" entities, one of which is a hybrid and others are electric.

The Ford GT Mk IV, a track-only variant limited to 67 units, achieved a Nürburgring lap time of 6:15.977, making it the quickest gasoline-powered car recorded on the circuit.

The GT Mk IV’s construction features a twin-turbocharged Ford EcoBoost V6 engine producing "more than 800bhp." It is equipped with a "bespoke racing gearbox" and suspension technology developed by Multimatic. The car’s design includes a lengthened wheelbase and an extended 'long-tail' body, elements intended to enhance aerodynamic efficiency and downforce. This configuration is a departure from road-legal constraints, focusing entirely on circuit performance.

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Positioning and Context

Ford Racing, through figures like Scott Bartlett, global sports car marketing manager, frames the achievement as a demonstration of "ambition" and a "glimpse into the future of performance." The company asserts that this lap time establishes the GT Mk IV as the fastest American original equipment manufacturer (OEM) around the Nürburgring, outperforming other American contenders, including certain Chevrolet Corvette variants in "similar track-focused categories."

"This moment also underscores the incredible diversity of performance vehicles within the Ford Racing stable."

The context of the GT Mk IV's record is significant. It bypasses records held by street-legal cars, which currently sit in the "low 6:30s," with examples like the Mercedes-AMG One (6:35.183) and Porsche 911 GT2 RS MR mentioned as being among the quickest road-going entries. The Mk IV's performance is presented as a distinct category, separate from these production-based vehicles.

The car’s lineage is also invoked, drawing parallels to the "original GT40 programme" and its "singular focus on circuit performance." This historical reference is presented as central to the car's perceived significance.

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The Driver and the Moment

Factory driver Frédéric Vervisch is credited with piloting the GT Mk IV during its record lap. His role is described as being intimately familiar with the car's limits and characteristics on the track, understanding "where the pavement changes, where the car gets light, where you can lean on it, and where you can’t." This suggests a performance that relies on both machine and the rider’s skilled interaction with the demanding circuit. The accomplishment is framed as a moment where "everything lined up."

The GT Mk IV's track-only nature and its substantial cost, estimated at $1.7 million, mean it is not a vehicle for casual public road use. This distinction highlights its specialized purpose within the automotive landscape.