Champion drift driver Vaughn Gittin Jr has become the first person to drift all the way around the Nürburgring Nordschleife, doing so in a 900bhp modified Ford Mustang RTR.
His lap time has not been released, but the car reached speeds of more than 150mph during the record attempt. It went through three sets of tyres during the single lap.
The Mustang RTR was modified to produce up to 900bhp, using a 5.0-litre Aluminator XS engine developed by Ford Performance and boosted by a Vortech JL Trim supercharger. In addition, the car’s steering lock angle was increased to 65deg.
Six microphones were fitted inside to record the action, while two camera drones were used, because one was destroyed during filming.
It’s the first time anyone has drifted around the Nürburgring in full, partly because drifting isn’t usually allowed on the famed circuit.
Gittin said: “Drifting the Nürburgring represents the ultimate challenge to me.
"It's something that many question whether it would be possible and whether the car and driver could do it and come out in one piece. Something inside of me had to take this on to find out."
He continued: “I didn't know the Green Hell nearly as well as I thought I did. Everything changes when you’re going sideways at those speeds.
“I was out of my comfort zone for the majority of the hot laps. When we stopped for the first tyre change, I was elated. I had to catch my breath, which is something I've never experienced behind the wheel since I was a rookie in Formula Drift.”
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3 sets of tyres?
How can it go through three sets of tyres in a lap? If they had to stop to change tyres it's not a lap? Or do you mean they went through three sets of tyres during the attempt to complete a whole lap while drifting?
Great
Not a welcome advertisement for motor cars and the environment. Autocar take note.
Yawn, about as interesting as..?
What’s the fastest Lap in reverse gear?, who is the youngest lap record holder?, is there a record for a Go-Kart?, yeah, these are snooze worthy also, the drift one was just good PR...