Ford is claiming a major victory over Chevrolet with its latest performance at the track known as the “Green Hell”, the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Ford says its Ford GT Mk IV set an incredible lap record at Nurburgring making it the fastest American OEM. The lap time of 6:15.977 makes Ford’s GT Mk IV, a track-only vehicle classified in the prototype category, the fastest car currently available for purchase to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife. This record time also means that the GT Mk IV is the fastest car that is exclusively powered by an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) car around the 'Ring.
The Ford GT Mk IV
There is no debate that the Ford GT Mk IV is a supercar. Only 67 of the vehicles were scheduled for production. This is the final set of GTs that were priced between $1.7 and 1.8 million. All were immediately snapped up by collectors. The GT Mk IVs are built with a specially engineered twin-turbo Ford EcoBoost engine with an estimated 820 horsepower. They are built on an Adaptive Spool Valve (ASV) race suspension from engineering partner, Multimatic. Its carbon fiber "long tail" body is a functional work of art, designed for maximum downforce and relentless speed.
The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 set an amazing record of its own in 2024. The Corvette ZR1 is Chevrolet’s supercar, an engineering marvel. The mid-engine design with the 5.5L, twin-turbocharged LT7 DOHC flat-plane crank V8 engine is faster than any previous Corvette. Testing in Germany proves that the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is now the fastest car ever built by GM. General Motors President Mark Reuss drove a 2025 Corvette ZR1 233 mph, setting a top speed record beating any current production car priced under $1 million.
The Corvette ZR1X bested that record with another one in July of 2025. The ZR1X set the record for the fastest American car at Nurburgring, with an astonishing lap time of 6:49.275. Corvette ZR1X vehicle dynamics engineer Drew Cattell holds the fastest lap time of any non-professional racecar driver at the Nürburgring in the list of official record laps.
Now, the GT Mk IV comes along and beats that pace by 30 seconds, but still, it is not an apples - to - apples comparison. The ZR1X is a production car and the GT Mk IV is a track- only race vehicle. One key qualifier that GM says in all of its public relations material is that the C8 mid-engine Corvette is the fastest American production vehicle under a million dollars.
What is the Nurburgring Nordschleife Track in Germany?
For generations, the Nürburgring Nordschleife has been the ultimate proving ground. It is a relentless 12.9-mile ribbon of asphalt, twists, and elevation changes known affectionately as the "Green Hell." It's a place where legends are made, and limits are pushed.
The Ford GT Mk IV has set the record as the fastest American OEM around the Nürburgring, and the third fastest overall car to ever lap the Nordschleife. A number of different vehicles hold records in different divisions or categories. Ford chose Frédéric Vervisch, a factory driver for Ford Racing, to attempt the record setting lap. Frédéric is no stranger to the Nürburgring's challenges, having twice conquered the gruelling Nürburgring 24 Hours in 2019 and 2022. He also made history as one of the first winners in the new Mustang GT3 at the 2025 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, a testament to his versatility and winning pedigree. Vervisch’s result means that the Ford GT Mk IV is faster around the Nordschleife than the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X (also in the prototype category) to become the fastest American OEM around the ‘Ring. In fact, the Ford GT Mk IV is now the 3rd fastest vehicle of any type to lap the ‘Ring including race cars and prototype electric vehicles.
"Driving the Ford GT Mk IV at the Nürburgring is an experience unlike any other," Frédéric shared after his monumental laps. "The car is an absolute weapon, a true extension of your will. Every input is met with an immediate, precise response. Through the Kesselchen, over the Flugplatz, it just inspires confidence, allowing you to push harder and harder. You feel the history of the track, and you feel the immense capability of the Ford Racing engineers who poured their hearts into this machine. To set these records is a dream come true, a testament to what's possible when passion meets precision."
Why Speed and Performance are So Important
The high-speed laps are not just about bragging rights, although those are important in the automotive world. Most automakers use speed and performance as learning tools for their production vehicles. GM has both Chevrolet and Cadillac racing teams and executives freely admit that they use lessons from racing to make all their vehicles better. Ford’s CEO, Jim Farley, often talks about racing to gauge how well Ford vehicles perform in the real world. Manufacturers often test lighter weight materials in racing and then see how they can use those materials in production vehicles to improve mileage. High speeds test endurance in vehicles. While high-speed steering often translates to better suspensions and handling in production vehicles.
Ford says, “What we learn from these extreme challenges directly translates into making better road cars for our customers worldwide.
But this isn't just about lap times; it's about our unwavering commitment to racing, to innovation, and to delivering exhilarating experiences for our customers. Ford Racing is about pushing boundaries, learning, and continually evolving. The Ford GT Mk IV's performance at the Nürburgring is a powerful statement of our ambition and a thrilling glimpse into the future of performance. We race to win, we race to learn, and we race to bring that winning spirit to everyone who loves Ford.”
Image by Ford
About the Author
Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin. Follow Mary at @MaryConwayMedia on X and on Facebook, and send her car news tips for future stories. Mary Conway is an esteemed automotive and business reporter who was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 2019. Mary is a member of the Automotive Press Association, Rocky Mountain Automotive Press, Society of Professional Journalists, and NATAS.
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