The cliché of ‘road racing cars’ is dying out. Not because of an ever-increasing effort to make road cars dull and mangled, but in fact quite the opposite. Machines like the new Mustang GTD and Porsche 911 GT3 RS are no longer race car copies; they are technically superior in a number of respects.
For decades, there was a hierarchy among manufacturers in the automotive sector. For the most part, the sports car you bought from the dealer was a toned-down version of the race car you looked at on Sunday. The road car was heavier, not as powerful, and had a suspension built to soak up potholes.
But as technology has evolved and motorsport has become safer and more controlled, the opposite is starting to be true. The Mustang GTD is a good example of this.
Photo by: Ford
The 815-horsepower pony car is being marketed as a street-legal version of Ford’s GT3 racer. Around the Nürburgring he achieved a time of 6 minutes and 52.07 seconds, making him faster than the Porsche 918 Spyder and the Ferrari 298 GTB, among others. Obviously track conditions and even tires play a big role in these times, but it’s still remarkable to see a Mustang so high on the hours list.
GT3 cars race on a different Nürburgring layout, so it’s difficult to compare directly. But if you archaically adjust the timing just a little bit to create something similar, the race car is only slightly faster than the road car version – and that’s with slicks (albeit with limited power).
Unfortunately, there’s a major reason why the GTD will never see track time this way: it’s illegal. This is why
Active aerodynamics
Photo by: Ford
Look at the rear of both the GTD and GT3 variants and you’ll see a fairly large wing. With the GTD it is hydraulically operated with a DRS system similar to what you saw in Formula 1 last season. There are also matching valves under the car to further increase downforce.
According to Ford, this system creates a maximum load of 1,950 pounds, in addition to several other wings and blades spread throughout the panels. But with the push of a button he can lose that resistance for a ride down the straight. The Porsche 911 GT3 RS does the same.
But according to the FIA GT3 regulations, aerodynamic surfaces must are static, making these two cars – and many others – illegal. As soon as a car leaves the pit lane, the wing angle must be determined. If a driver wants to add more downforce, he has to pit and have his crew get out the keys.
The FIA has banned this for two reasons: the cost of doing this simply makes it too expensive, especially for private teams. And perhaps most importantly for viewers, active aerodynamics will make dirty air a real problem as cars start to create absurd levels of downforce, specifically when cornering.
Active suspension
Photo by: Ford
The GTD features Adaptive Spool Valve suspension dampers that change when Track mode is activated. Not only does it become stiffer, but it also lowers the ride height by 40 millimeters, improving underbody aerodynamics and lowering the center of gravity.
In GT3 and a number of other series, active suspension is strictly prohibited. It was famously banned in F1 in 1994 when the cars became too unstable and dangerous to continue, with Williams leading the way in using this technology. The team still hides how they did it to this day.
The FIA now considers this a driver aid, and it is very unlikely to return.
Engine power
This is a bit more common sense. While the GTD produces well over 800 horsepower from its supercharged 5.2-liter V8, the GT3 car only produces about 500 horsepower.
This is due to something called Balance of Performance or BoP. The FIA uses this to ensure close racing between different makes and models. From rear-engine Fords and Porsches to mid-engine Ferraris, every car should be able to race on a level playing field. That’s why air restrictors are added to engines and power-to-weight ratios are measured to ensure no one has an unfair advantage.
Street cars don’t have such referees, so Ford could throw as much power at his car as he wanted.
Why bother using banned technology?
Why would manufacturers bother investing in banned technology and adding it to their cars if it can’t be used in racing? There are several reasons.
Manufacturers want their customers to feel like racing drivers, without having to dedicate their lives to the art. If a driver can rely on technology instead of talent, the manufacturer has done a good job. Plus, street cars, with features like sound deadening, a usable trunk, and carpeted floor mats, need all the help they can get to squeeze more performance out of more weight.
The final reason is the arms race at the Nürburgring. The biggest stories surrounding the GTD since its release have been its astonishing lap times. Ford wants to beat the clock, so when it comes to street-legal cars, the gloves are off.
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