Ford Transit SuperVan Just Smoked the Corvette ZR1X at the Nürburgring

SuperVan’s incredible feat was inspired by the late Sabine Schmitz
The Ford Mustang GTD barely had any time to enjoy its Nürburgring record for American cars before Chevy came along and broke it with the Corvette ZR1 and ZR1X. Well, it didn’t take long for Ford to earn back some brownie points at the ‘Ring, but the Blue Oval has done so with the most unlikely rig: A Ford Transit, but this is not your average cargo van or practical people-mover.

This Ford Transit SuperVan 4.2 is what happens when the Ford Performance team is allowed total freedom to pursue the unthinkable. Not only does this SuperVan’s Nürburgring run pay tribute to a legendary race car driver, but the van also lapped the ‘Ring faster than a ZR1X.

Why Take A Ford Van To The Nürburgring?
Back in Top Gear’s heyday, then-host Jeremy Clarkson was tasked with driving a Jaguar S-Type around the track in under 10 minutes. He did so, which prompted the late racing driver, Sabine Schmitz, to say: “I can go faster than that in a Ford Transit.”

According to the Ford team, Schmitz’s quip led to a wild dream to take a modified Transit to the ‘Ring. That’s how Ford ended up with the SuperVan 4.2, which lives up to its name with a wild output of 2,000 horsepower.

This electric Transit already impressed in the Goodwood Hillclimb last year, when it set a time of 43.98 seconds. Romain Dumas was behind the wheel back then, and he returned for this new Nürburgring run that would have done Schmitz proud. In case you forgot, Schmitz worked as a driver for BMW and Porsche, while also becoming the first woman to win a major 24-hour race.

Quicker Than A Porsche 911 GT3 RS

The Ford Transit SuperVan 4.2 posted a lap time of just 6:48.393, making it the ninth fastest vehicle to complete a lap of the Nürburgring. That time beats the 6:49.275 effort of the ZR1X, and it’s also quicker than the 6:49.328 effort of the mighty Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

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Of course, the SuperVan is not a production vehicle—it’s a bespoke race car running on slick tires that just happens to be shaped like a van. Because of that, its achievement carries less weight, but it’s still a remarkable effort. Ford also hinted at a similarly impressive lap time from another EV, while paying tribute to Schmitz.

“We are very proud of our remarkable SuperVan but we never rest,” said Ford. “There is more to come, not least with the F-150 Lightning SuperTruck that was also at the Ring on the same day. For now, we will celebrate this achievement and also remember Sabine Schmitz and her part in this amazing story. She will never be forgotten.”

Beating the Corvette pair with an electric racing van may not be the record Ford fans were hoping for, but something tells us the GTD has another trick up its sleeve.