Ford’s 2,000bhp Transit SuperVan sets ‘Ring record in honour of Sabine Schmitz

Ford has honoured the late, great and supernaturally fast Sabine Schmitz by taking the 2,000bhp SuperVan 4.2 and absolutely sending it around the Nürburgring.

In the hands of Romain Dumas, SuperVan 4.2 managed a time of 6m 48.393s, which is both the fastest ever time set by a van – a van! – but also the ninth fastest ‘car’ to have blitzed around the 20.8km track.

Incredible. That lap time makes it faster than really fast things like a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, a Chevy Corvette ZR1X, and even Ford’s own mad Mustang GTD. It’s just shy of an AMG GT Black Series, too. And it all started because Sabine bet Clarkson she could ‘do that lap time in a van’.

That now famous lap started a fire over at Ford, because ever since Sabine absolutely sent it, “taking a Ford Transit to the limit around the ‘Ring has always been a dream for a few of us”, according to Ford’s F1 and demo programme manager Michael Norton.

“It wasn’t until now that we had the right Transit, the right driver and the right conditions to see what might be possible,” he said. He did concede that SuperVan 4.2 – a quad-motor electric racing van – was on slick tyres and pushing out 2,000bhp, “but even so”, Norton said, “that makes this one seriously quick Transit”.

And while Norton “can’t be specific just yet for competitive reasons”, he said “a number of our future race programmes” will benefit from the SuperVan 4.2’s adventures.

“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,” he said. “But for now, we will celebrate this achievement but also remember Sabine Schmitz and her part in this amazing story.

“She will never be forgotten.”