FORD'S SUPERVAN 4.2 IS UNLEASHED ON THE NURBURGRING - CRACKS THE TOP 10 FASTEST ALL-TIME LAPS LIST!
The original Ford Supervan was first seen at Brands Hatch in 1971 and was based on a 3rd-generation Ford Transit from the outside. Inside it was completely custom, basically a cage of sorts with a 5.0-litre V8 sourced from the GT40 and this was mated to a four-on-the-floor 4-speed transmission, and all 435 hp was directed at oversized rear rubber. It was the looks of the van that garnered worldwide attention because it was so different and able to appeal to hardcore race fans and regular Joes simultaneously. The Supervan's aerodynamics were also enhanced with a custom body kit, including a prominent front splitter and a large rear spoiler, ensuring downforce in numbers that a van has no business having. The livery showcased Ford's racing heritage with the iconic blue and orange Gulf Oil colours. Since then, the Supervan has undergone several transformations, each version pushing things even further. Supervan received upgrades to improve aerodynamics, along with enhanced suspension and updated technology. We saw Supervan 4.0 at Goodwood Festival of Speed a couple of years ago - it was the modern equivalent of the 1971 unveiling, with everyone instantly loving it. It featured almost 2,000 hp that was generated by a set of four electric motors. After kicking ass, Supervan underwent even more development to prep the car for a Pikes Peak International Hill Climb run, where the crew wanted the coveted top podium spot for EVs.
For this attempt, it was SuperVan 4.2 saw a complete redesign of the aero of the lightweight carbon fibre rear spoiler and front splitter, as well as weight reduction to improve balance and agility. The regenerative braking system was revised, and carbon ceramic discs were added along with forged magnesium wheels, upgraded driveshafts, a perspex windscreen, and a minimalist race-spec interior. Refinements were made to the powertrain - one of the STARD UHP 6-phase motors was removed, leaving three in play. This saw the power figure drop to around 1,400 hp, but with a motor removed, it gave the van an optimal power-to-weight ratio while still sending power to all four wheels. The result was a record run at Pikes Peak as well as a record EV lap time at the iconic Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst. Next up, Supervan was to be unleashed at Nurburgring to get the EV class record there, but also as a sorta low-key tribute to well-known and much-missed ‘Ring specialist, Sabine Schmitz.
Michael Norton, the F1 and Demonstrators program manager at Ford, writes:
“The Ford Transit has a legendary status at the equally legendary Nürburgring. That status can be traced back to an episode of the TV show "Top Gear" with then-presenter Jeremy Clarkson and the now sadly departed ‘Ring specialist Sabine Schmitz. For those who have not seen it, the premise of the show was to try and get Clarkson to drive a Jaguar S-Type around the ‘Ring in under 10 minutes. Once he achieves this feat, Schmitz makes the now infamous statement – ‘I can go faster than that in a Ford Transit’ and from there, the story evolves into one of the most compelling challenges ever. I won’t spoil the ending for those that have not seen it, but ever since that day, taking a Ford Transit to the limit around the ‘Ring has always been the dream for a few of us at Ford Performance, but it wasn’t until now that we had the right Transit, the right driver and the right conditions to see what might be possible. But before we delve into the result, what was the vehicle and more importantly, why were we doing it (apart from the glory, of course)!
Well, the vehicle is none other than the Ford Transit SuperVan 4.2 – a bespoke 2,000-horsepower (power may be up again, Michael would know better than we do) electric SuperVan designed to take on and conquer some of the greatest racetracks and events in the world. SuperVan 4.2 already holds records at Bathurst and was a winner at Pikes Peak, but there was always one track on our mind – the famous Green Hell – that we wanted to challenge ourselves at. But why? Well, our electric vehicle demonstrator program has become an integral part of our broader Ford Performance racing portfolio, and for good reason. It is here that we can give our super-talented engineers, designers and aerodynamicists a clean sheet of paper and tell them to dream big.
This is our chance to see what is possible far beyond any rule books for any race series. Here, we can explore the boundaries of what is possible, all with the aim of bringing these learnings back into both our race programs and our road programs. And it is already bearing fruit for us. I can’t be specific just yet for competitive reasons, but suffice to say that a number of our future race programs will see the benefits from vehicles like SuperVan 4.2.
So how did we do? Well, in the hands of the remarkable Romain Dumas, SuperVan 4.2 was able to post an incredible time of 6:48.393, which makes it the 9th fastest vehicle ever to complete a timed lap of the Nürburgring. To put that into context, it means that the Transit SuperVan 4.2 is faster than a Porsche 911 GT3RS and the Chevrolet ZR1X. Now, to be fair, this is a bespoke race car with slick tyres and 2,000 horsepower, but even so, that makes this one seriously quick Transit! Of course, we are very proud of our remarkable SuperVan, but we never rest. There is more to come, not least with the F-150 Lightning SuperTruck that was also at the Ring on the same day. For now, we will celebrate this achievement and also remember Sabine Schmitz and her part in this amazing story. She will never be forgotten.”
Take a look at the YouTube video that shows you the in-car (in-van) footage of the bonkers Ford Transit Supervan 4.2 getting into the top ten list of the fastest cars to ever lap the famed circuit - as expected, it's Ford's mad test driver Romain Dumas at the helm - a man with no fear: SuperVan 4.2 Nürburgring Lap | Ford Performance | Ford Performance
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