2021 Mach 1 Results @ Car and Driver Lightning Lap 2022

[Jarstang]

Link to Lightning Lap 2022 Competition article:
https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a38955362/lightning-lap-2022/

Link to Mach 1 review article:
https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a38966053/2021-ford-mustang-mach-1-lightning-lap/






2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 at Lightning Lap 2022
The perfect distillation of years of Mustang development.

Lap Time: 2:51.4

Class: LL2 | Base: $60,245 | As Tested: $60,740
Power and Weight: 480 hp • 3811 lb • 7.9 lb/hp
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2, F: 305/30ZR-19 (98Y) R: 315/30ZR-19 (100Y)

The Ford Mustang Mach 1 didn't happen overnight. It's the culmination of years of development to the sixth-gen Stang bundled into a single package. The 2019 Shelby GT350R donates its camber plates. With the front wheels canted like the head of a curious dog, the Mach 1 enjoys precise turn-in and averages a 1.13-g ride through Turn 1.

The 480-hp 5.0-liter V-8 comes from the retired Mustang Bullitt. It's down 46 ponies to the GT350R, and that deficit shows up on long straights. Leading into the Climbing Esses, the Mach 1 is 3.4 mph slower than the GT350R, but aerodynamic and chassis bits from the Shelby keep the Mach 1 pressed into the tarmac, allowing liberal use of the accelerator. By the end of that treacherous combination, the Mach 1 is only 0.1 second behind its more powerful predecessor.

The Tremec six-speed manual is also a GT350R part, and engineers have added the ability to keep the accelerator floored during shifts. Enthusiasts might scoff at the rev-matching software (which can be turned off), but VIR is so demanding that having just a bit less to do and more foot on the brake pedal makes it a welcome feature.

The Mach 1 proved to be durable too. We tortured the Mustang over five consecutive laps to see whether its rear end would overheat like the Mustang GT Performance Pack Level 2's from a few years back. The Mach 1 never broke a sweat thanks to rear-differential, transmission, and engine oil coolers from the GT350R.

This cornucopia of Mustang parts seems to be the perfect combo. The Mach 1's 2:51.4 time is 0.4 second quicker than the GT350R's. Plus, that time is good enough to make the Mach 1 the new king of LL2, the mostly affordable sub-$65K class. We're guessing that record will stand for at least as long as it took to create the Mach 1.

Watch the Mach 1 lap @ https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a38966053/2021-ford-mustang-mach-1-lightning-lap/

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[Zelek]

Uh oh, better not let the GT350 owners know about this.

 

[danpass]

Nice ..... and too bad they didn't use a 2022 model, to highlight the engine calibration hits.

 

[S550VIN54]

Uh oh, better not let the GT350 owners know about this.

There goes another 10k ADM!

 

[Mazman]

Did the GT350 also come with Cup2s?

If not the comparison is not that relevant if yes then a really good time compared to the GT350

 

[S550VIN54]

Did the GT350 also come with Cup2s?

If not the comparison is not that relevant if yes then a really good time compared to the GT350

The GT350R is fitted with cup2's

 

[ChitownStang]

They used the best color to break the record too!

 

[S550VIN54]

Does anyone know what the temps were during this competition? I was trying to find out when they ran this competition. Be interesting to know.

 

[Mikepol2]

Maybe now we can finally put to rest all the debate about whether the Mach 1 is a worthy replacement for the GT350. Not only is it a replacement, but to also replace the GT350R is pretty impressive. If you want the snake on the grill or the sound of the engine, have at it, but no more will Mach 1 owners be scoffed at performance-wise.

"This cornucopia of Mustang parts seems to be the perfect combo." Yup. So now everyone can back off on the "parts bin special" criticisms too.

 

[ChitownStang]

Maybe now we can finally put to rest all the debate about whether the Mach 1 is a worhty replacement for the GT350. Not only is it a replacement, but to also replace the GT350R is pretty impressive. If you want the snake on the grill or the sound of the engine, have at it, but no more will Mach 1 owners be scoffed at performance-wise.

yeah, but but but it doesn't sound as good as the flat plane crank...lol

 

[Schwerin]

What's the weight difference in the R and 1? If I recall the Mach1 isnt just down on power vs the R but also up on weight. Makes it even more impressive it does so well against the R.

 

[Charlemagne]

Faster than GT350R, nice. Now we only need a test between Tremec and 10R80 on the same track

 

[kbreeze72]

Very nice! Yeah I was so sick of hearing the sneering "parts-bin" comments. At the end of the day, every car is from a parts bin. Who cares, as long as they are good parts that work together nicely.

 

[VictorH]

What’s amazing to me (having come from BMW M) is that the Mach 1 is faster than the M3 X-drive competition. I have driven that car at Indy and thought it was really fast, but it’s always about the combination of both cornering speed and straight-line speed, which evidently the BMW does not have enough of to overcome the Mach 1’s times.

Congrats to the Mach 1 design team, very impressive result. Feel all the better about my purchase and looking forward to some track days at VIR, RA and others.

 

[Ronp]

Glad the Mach 1 performed so well. Hard for me to believe it outperforms a GT350R. In fact I don't, but it's obvious the Mach 1 is a performer. I'd drive one any day of the week! My local dealer has a used iconic HP car on the lot and it looks sweet with the wheels, lowered stance, and the matte black stripe on the hood.

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