Updated 8/22/18 at 11:54 AM with confirmation from a Ford spokesperson that the company owns this particular GT.
Over the weekend, video emerged of a Ford GT running around the Nürburging. The car appears to have been brought to the track by Ford itself, rather than an individual owner. And we think the automaker is going for a 'Ring lap time. Here's why.
For starters, this particular GT, wearing the UK registration GT17 FOE, is the same one that's been used by Ford for various motorsports appearances. It was at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last month, raced up the hill by Ford factory driver Harry Ticknell, and it's the same car that was featured in Speedhunters last year. A Ford spokesperson confirmed that the company owns this particular GT.
It looks like this GT is being run during an industry pool session, where automakers test their cars on the famously challenging circuit. Check out the camouflaged Audi following the GT at 1:38 in the video. You don't see camo'd prototypes rounding the track during tourist lapping sessions.
And judging by the video, this car is lapping in Race Mode, which lowers the ride height by 50mm and sets the wing for maximum downforce and air braking. Just look at the way it scrapes its belly tearing through the Karussel. This is no cruise; this is maximum attack, or something close to it.
And finally, as you can see when the car rounds certain bends, it's equipped with a few roof-mounted antennas. These certainly look like they're part of a telemetry data gathering system. If you're taping antennas to the roof of your car, it's probably because you're using a Vbox or similar lap-timing device.
So, is Ford trying to set a lap time here? We don't know, but it doesn't seem like this GT is lapping the 'Ring just for fun.
A car enthusiast since childhood, Chris Perkins served as Road & Track's engineering nerd and Porsche apologist.
