Ford has reclaimed its position as the fastest American manufacturer at the Nürburgring with a pair of hot laps from its most potent models. The Mustang GTD previously broke the 7-minute barrier in mixed conditions, before the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X unceremoniously shattered its time.

The 1,250bhp hybrid supercar took 7.96 seconds off the track-focused Mustang's time, but the GTD has come back with a point to prove. The time of 6:40.835 eclipses the Corvette by 8.44 seconds, takes 16.85 seconds off its own previous benchmark, and puts it 5.004 seconds clear of the Manthey Racing 911 GT3 RS.

Factory racing driver Dirk Müller was once again in the hot seat for the GTD's 12.94-mile tour of the Nordschleife, but the car has been further developed since its last timed lap. The 5.2-litre supercharged V8 now produces beyond the 815bhp and 661lb-ft (900Nm) of the road car.

Ford Sets The Nurburgring Pace with Mustang GTD Competition - Ford team poses in front of black Mustang GTD Competition having claimed the pre-production prototype lap record

The aerodynamic package has been refined, with a second set of diveplanes at the front and modifications to the DRS-equipped rear wing, plus aero discs covering the rear wheels. Weight has been trimmed through the fitment of carbon fibre bucket seats, forged magnesium wheels, and a revised active damper system. New, unspecified tyres were fitted for the record run, and close inspection of the celebratory stationary image suggests some typical Nürburgring skullduggery, owing to the lack of any visible treadblocks.

Ford hasn't disclosed the exact specifications for now, but has confirmed the modifications will form the basis of a new GTD Competition model that "will only be offered in the future as a special edition, street legal model available in strictly limited, serialised quantities." The full details are set to be formally announced in the coming months; however, one thing Ford has confirmed is that the order books for the original Mustang GTD have been reopened.

The Mustang GTD Competition's lap time comes mere days after another heavily developed Ford set an equally remarkable time. The track-only GT Mk IV became the third fastest car ever to traverse the Nordschleife, featuring an enlarged 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V6 developing over 800bhp sent to the rear wheels through a racing gearbox, a bespoke carbon fibre body, and a lengthened wheelbase compared to the road car.

The Mk IV benefits from an extreme aerodynamics package with a pronounced front splitter and side skirts, towering rear wing, and a diffuser worthy of the GTE starting grid. As with the Mustang GTD, the car was engineered by Multimatic and features their advanced adaptive suspension on both axles. Only 67 will be built – a reference to the original Mk IV's first triumph at Le Mans – with prices starting from $1.7 million.

Driven by Frédéric Vervisch, the GT Mk IV set a time of 6:15.977 – 13.133 seconds faster than the road-legal Mercedes-AMG One hypercar, bested only by the modified Volkswagen ID.R and Porsche 919 Evo competition cars.

With these two lap times, Ford has thrown down the gauntlet to arch-rival General Motors. Until the full GTD Competition specifications are revealed, and how much development separates it from the road car, its lap time should carry an asterisk. Perhaps that's why Ford also sent racing engineer Steve Thompson out for a lap, returning a time of 6:49.337 – a mere tenth of a second shy of GM engineer Drew Cattell's 6:49.275 in the ZR1X, a clear and direct riposte to GM's marketing strategy. One thing is clear: whether it's around the Green Hell or through a calculated barb in a press release, this battle is set to continue.