Chevrolet is not rushing back to the Nürburgring after Ford’s Mustang GTD Competition moved more than eight seconds ahead of the Corvette ZR1X. Tony Roma, GM’s executive chief engineer for Corvette and performance cars, said the team had already selected Pikes Peak for its next ZR1X showcase and is not planning an immediate return to Germany.

Speaking on The Drivecast, Roma acknowledged that the decision may disappoint fans, but said Ford’s latest lap does not create an obligation for Chevrolet to respond immediately. The Corvette team plans to pursue a program that makes sense for the brand rather than allowing Ford’s result to dictate its schedule.

Ford extends the Nürburgring gap

Ford’s latest benchmark came from factory driver Dirk Müller, who recorded a 6:40.835 in the Mustang GTD Competition. That time is more than eight seconds quicker than the 6:49.275 set by Corvette vehicle dynamics engineer Drew Cattell in the ZR1X.

The Mustang used for the new run was not the same version that previously posted a 6:52.072 lap. The Competition model featured additional aerodynamic components, new tires, magnesium wheels, carbon-fiber bucket seats and engine upgrades intended to provide more power than the regular Mustang GTD, which carries a stated price of $325,000.

Ford’s lap was recorded in the Nürburgring’s Pre-Production/Prototype category. Chevrolet’s three Corvette runs were also placed in that category. Chevrolet has said its cars were built to U.S. production specification, although safety equipment required for the attempts was added.

Corvette’s engineer-driven results

Chevrolet’s earlier Nürburgring effort included more than the ZR1X run. Brian Wallace drove a Corvette ZR1 to a 6:50.763, while Aaron Link recorded a 7:11.826 in the Z06. The two turbocharged Corvettes both surpassed the Mustang GTD’s earlier 6:52.072 benchmark.

All three Corvette drivers were Chevrolet engineers involved in developing the cars. Although they were not full-time professional racers, each had completed at least 400 laps at the Nürburgring before the attempts. Link had accumulated roughly 800 runs at the circuit.

Roma said presenting the development team was an important part of Chevrolet’s Nürburgring effort, alongside demonstrating the capabilities of the cars. He also credited Ford’s response with strengthening the rivalry between the two American manufacturers.

Another engineer nearly matches the ZR1X

Ford also placed engineer Steve Thompson behind the wheel during its latest Nürburgring sessions. His 6:49.337 lap finished just 0.062 seconds behind Cattell’s ZR1X time.

The closely matched engineer-driven results add another layer to the Corvette-Mustang contest, but Roma indicated that Chevrolet’s next move will not be dictated solely by Ford’s new benchmark. For now, the ZR1X’s next planned showcase is Pikes Peak rather than another immediate Nürburgring attempt.