NS:
round the ring the GT is definitely no bluff package but more a serious high-performance sports car. the GT even challenges the driver with its uncomplicated, neutral and safe handling behaviour. the lap time of 7:52 is kinda outstanding as the car wasn´t equipped with sports tires during the Supertest. the high topspeed at Döttinger Höhe also indicates a very powerful engine in combination with a proper aerodynamic package.
HHR:
after the first few corners the GT feels kinda dull due to kinda high weight (1599kg) but mainly due to the undefined steering feel, nevertheless even on a kinda narrow track like HHR the GT feels home, the suspension setup is nearly perfect here.
only the tranny won´t work on the test car, that´s why the whole lap´s been done in 3rd gear – in the end this´d been no major problem or time affective, maybe 2 or 3 tenths at Ameiskurve
acc/breaking:
due to the gnarly gearbox on the test GT it may have lost a tenth or so, but 3.9sec from 0 to 100 not only shows the performance of the engine but also the enormous traction of the Ford GT, the clutch is not very easy going and requires quite a strong foot but works perfect. de-acceleration with the steel discs is of course not up to the ceramic brakes like used in Ferraris or at Porsche but they operate at a very high and safe level.
aerodynamics:
due to the airflow layout that the escaping cooling air is flowing over the windscreen and whole car the GT generates 435N downforce at the front, the 20N lift at the back are negligible. with a good cw-value of 0.348 the GT can easily reach 330km/h top speed.
max. lateral acc.:
not only the aerodynamical but also the weight distribution are balanced very well on the GT, a plus for fast cornering, the “Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar” is a good compromise between street and sport tire but definitely more on the street side than on the racetrack, nevertheless the GT is good for 1.3g lateral acc. mainly because of its good overall setup and construction
36m slalom:
of course with 1599kg the GT is not as agile as a Carrera S, main reason for that is the “lazy” steering, nevertheless the car can be positioned through the cones very precise and after the 5th cone the GT still feels and is very stable, neutral and a good handler.
110m evasion test:
although the GT comes with a kinda soft suspension setup there´s hardly any roll in the chassis, the steering – as lazy as it is – is on the other hand precise and the overall handling is therefore very good natured. tricky load-cycle changes are no problem to deal with and catching the car back.
wet handling:
the GT comes without any el.aids only a ABS system is installed and it is to say that the GT doesn´t need any aids due to its good overall setup. this is also valid for wet conditions, hardly any understeering and when the car starts oversteering everything is very predictable and under safe conditions – here the “not so nervous and direct” steering is helping of course in combination with the Goodyear Eagle tires with their kinda high negative tread contingent.
verdict:
who ever had doubts that the Americans can´t build sport cars!!!?
no one here in good old Europe would have bet that the GT is performing that good, quite some thought that it´ll just be another “show car” from over the pond but Ford did a really good job on either building the GT and of course also on preparing the GT that it is useable on both, strolling around in the city in front of the café´s but also at demanding tracks like Nürburgring Nordschleife, a lap time of 7:52 is definitely an argument!
what a pitty that only 19 of the 101 cars for Europe will be seen in germany…