Ford Retakes Nürburgring Lap Record, Corvette Declines Rematch

Ford’s Mustang GTD Competition has retaken the Nürburgring lap record, outperforming earlier times set by the competition’s rivals.

The Corvette ZR1 completed a lap under seven minutes, becoming the fastest American car around the track at the time, but it was not a direct challenge to Ford’s record.

Tony Roma, GM’s Executive Chief Engineer for Corvette and Performance Cars, explained that Chevrolet’s team used a homegrown approach, employing its own development drivers and engineers rather than hiring external specialists to race at the Nürburgring.

Instead of a rematch, Chevrolet focused on a different motorsport event, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, which the team had already planned for that year, to showcase the Corvette’s capabilities.

Roma stated that Chevrolet will not return to the Nürburgring to “tit-for-tat” Ford’s achievement, choosing instead to pursue a challenge that makes sense for the brand.

The rivalry between Ford and Chevrolet continues, but Chevrolet’s decision to pursue other racing events leaves Ford’s Nürburgring record intact for now.