Trending Now - Porsche and Ford Battle for Nürburgring Supremacy With Record Laps
WHO:
Motor1.com - Jörg Bergmeister was the driver behind the wheel of the Manthey-equipped Porsche 911 GT3 RS during its record lap.
Road & Track - The Manthey Racing team, a Porsche-owned entity, is involved in enhancing Porsche's performance cars.
Motor1.com - Ford is represented by CEO Jim Farley and factory driver Dirk Müller, who piloted the record-setting Mustang GTD Competition.
WHAT:
Motor1.com - The Manthey Kit for the Porsche 911 GT3 RS costs $116,160.
Motor1.com - The Manthey-equipped 911 GT3 RS generates 2,200 pounds of downforce at 177 miles per hour.
Road & Track - The Manthey-equipped Porsche 911 GT3 RS set a Nürburgring lap time of 6:45.389.
Road & Track - The lap time of 6:45.389 is nearly four seconds faster than the previous record of 6:49.328 set by the basic RS in 2022.
Motor1.com - The Ford Mustang GTD Competition achieved a lap time of 6:40.835, making it the fastest street-legal American car at the Nürburgring.
Motor1.com - The Mustang GTD Competition's lap time is more than 8 seconds faster than the Corvette ZR1X's time of 6:49.275.
Motor1.com - The Mustang GTD Competition improved its lap time by 11 seconds compared to the standard Mustang GTD's previous best of 6:52.072.
WHERE:
Road & Track - The events took place at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, a famous racetrack in Germany.
Motor1.com - The Mustang GTD became the fastest American production car at the Nürburgring in 2024.
WHEN:
Road & Track - The record-setting lap time for the Manthey-equipped Porsche 911 GT3 RS was revealed on April 18th, 2026.
Motor1.com - The Mustang GTD became the fastest American production car at the Nürburgring in 2024, with subsequent records set in 2025 and 2026.
WHY:
Motor1.com - Ford aimed to reclaim the title of the fastest American production car after Chevrolet's Corvette ZR1 and ZR1X set quicker times.
HOW:
Motor1.com - The Manthey Kit includes a big wing, roof fins, a larger front splitter, dive planes, and larger rear diffuser strakes, along with new coilovers with stiffer springs, adaptive dampers, and braided brake lines.
Road & Track - The Manthey kit for the Porsche 911 GT3 RS includes rear aerodisc wheels and a large tailfin to enhance performance.
Motor1.com - The Mustang GTD Competition features an evolution of the supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine with more power than the standard model's 815 hp, along with magnesium wheels, carbon bucket seats, and lighter dampers to reduce weight.
(UPDATED April 18, 2026 13:19 UTC)
Jörg Bergmeister was the driver behind the wheel of the Manthey-equipped Porsche 911 GT3 RS during its record lap, which is equipped with a kit that costs $116,160. This impressive vehicle generates 2,200 pounds of downforce at 177 miles per hour, thanks to features like a big wing, roof fins, and a larger front splitter. The Manthey Kit also includes dive planes, larger rear diffuser strakes, and new coilovers with stiffer springs and adaptive dampers to enhance performance.
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(UPDATED April 18, 2026 03:55 UTC)
The Manthey-equipped Porsche 911 GT3 RS has set a remarkable Nürburgring lap time of 6:45.389, nearly four seconds faster than the previous record held by the basic RS. Meanwhile, the Ford Mustang GTD Competition achieved an impressive lap time of 6:40.835, making it the fastest street-legal American car at the Nürburgring and improving its previous best by 11 seconds. Both records were revealed on Saturday, showcasing the ongoing competition between these iconic brands to dominate the racetrack.