Porsche Sets Incredible 'Ring Time but Then Gets Outdone by Ford
Porsche returned to the "Green Hell" with a mission to push the 911 GT3 RS to its absolute limit—only to find Ford waiting to steal the spotlight.
The battle for Nürburgring supremacy has reached a fever pitch. Porsche recently returned to the Nordschleife with the 992.1-generation 911 GT3 RS, now equipped with the highly anticipated Manthey Kit. The results were staggering: nearly four seconds shaved off its previous best outing.
A clash of engineering philosophies: Porsche's precision meets Ford's brute force.
Porsche & Manthey: Shaving Seconds from Perfection
Driven by Porsche’s legendary development driver, Jörg Bergmeister, the Manthey-equipped GT3 RS conquered the 12.9-mile circuit in an official time of 6:45.389. This marks a 3.939-second improvement over the standard production model.
The gains are attributed to Manthey's specialized suspension tuning and aerodynamic upgrades. Porsche noted that the kit enables the car to navigate the section from Pflanzgarten II to Schwalbenschwanz under full throttle—a feat previously deemed almost impossible for a road-legal vehicle.
Success at the 'Ring is a team effort: Technicians fine-tuning the setup between laps.
Ford Strikes Back: The Mustang GTD "Competition"
Unfortunately for Stuttgart, the bragging rights lasted only hours. Ford announced today that the Mustang GTD Competition has set a blistering new benchmark of 6:40.835.
The Fine Print: Classification Matters
While Ford’s time is faster, the official charts draw a distinction: The Manthey-equipped GT3 RS is classified as a Production Sports Car. In contrast, the Mustang GTD Competition is currently listed as a Prototype / Pre-Production model, leaving some room for debate among purists.
Why These Numbers Matter
Automotive performance records are often performative—metrics that most drivers will never replicate. However, they serve as the ultimate advertising tool. For Porsche, it proves the value of their Manthey partnership. For Ford, it cements the Mustang GTD as a legitimate threat to Europe's finest supercars.
Editor's Note: Whether you prefer the surgical precision of the 911 or the aggressive innovation of the GTD, one thing is clear: we are living in a golden age of internal combustion performance.
