Bench Racing Episode 1 - Porsche GT3RS vs Ford Mustang GTD

 

Welcome to Sports Car Compendium’s first installment of Bench Racing!

This is the part where we compare and speculate on two cars that draw a worthy comparison.

This edition features the latest Youtube darling, the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3RS and the just revealed - ultimate Ford pony car - the 2025 Mustang GTD!

While the Porsche has had plenty of time to acclimate to the streets, the Mustang has yet to hit production status or customer delivery (end of 2024/early 2025 estimated). However, that doesn’t mean these two respectable cars won’t draw some parallels.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the highlights on these two.

	Porsche	Ford
Engine:	4.0-liter flat-six	5.2-liter supercharged V8*
Horsepower:	518	800*
Torque:	342 ft. lb	675* ft. lb
Max RPM:	9,000	7,500*
Top Speed:	184 MPH	TBD
Transmission:	7-speed dual clutch PDK	8-speed dual clutch
Aero:	Front & Rear Active	Front Active (optional) Rear Active
0-60	3.0 seconds	3.1*
1/4 mile ET	10.9 seconds	10.5 seconds*
Ring Lap:	6:49.328	>7:00 target
Starting Price:	$241,300 USD	$300,000

* Contains both speculative and aspirational figures

The Porsche is the known entity at this point, and the Mustang GTD is going to require some conservative speculation based on what information Ford has provided. 

What we do know. The Porsche has received accolades from both media outlets and owners alike, and for good reason. The engineers in Stuttgart are able to wring out 518 horsepower from the naturally aspirated six cylinder. That, in tandem with the light-weight carbon-fiber applications, its PDK transmission, DRS-style active aerodynamics and electronic assistants make it a weapon on the track. Testing has show the GT3 RS can run the Ring lap in well under the 7 minute mark the GTD is aiming for, and can do it with far less horsepower. 

Last week Ford introduced the “ultimate Mustang” as it’s being billed. The press-release includes some

aspirational and speculative figures. We’ll infer what we can from the data available to us and see where it could

land on the chart. 

Stateside, the Mustang GTD appears to be using a warmed up Predator V8 (from the Shelby GT500). Ford states it is looking for an estimated 800 horsepower. A doable achievement considering the motor handles 1,000 hp and 850 ft.lb of torque with aftermarket modifications. 

A standard GT500 can hit the 0-60 mark in 3.3 seconds and run the quarter in 10.61 seconds. So a speculative 3.0 second 0-60 times and a 10.5 quarter mile for the GTD seems well within range combining the extra horsepower and reduced weight. The GTD also has plenty of meat on the four corners (345mm rear and 325mm fronts), and getting the power down will be paramount with the new 8-speed dual clutch transmission. 

No doubt the Blue Oval Faithful will tow the line on the evolving Mustang and buy up each model as it rolls off the line, even with its $300,000 starting price.

The Porsche presents at a cheaper price point (not often heard) with every ounce of performance that most drivers will never fully realize. The Mustang comes with more horsepower and domestic swagger not usually present when competing with its European counterparts. But will those points be enough to overcome the allure and dethrone the Porsche? Time and testing will tell, but we’re excited to see how the GTD performs when available and how Porsche continues to garner attention and praise.