After taking a couple of years off, Ford Performance returns to IMSA and FIA WEC action with the new S650 Mustang Dark Horse-based GT3 race car. Appropriately, it debuted on the eve of the centennial running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France.
Ford Returning To Endurance Racing With New Mustang Race Car
While the body is largely carbon fiber paneling, it’s been colored up by none other than Troy Lee, who is known for the eye-popping Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche liveries. The new S650 Mustang GT3 represents Lee’s first involvement with any Ford race car.
To make the new Mustang GT3 happen, Ford Performance worked with longtime partners Multimatic and M-Sport. Canada’s Multimatic will build and support the Mustang GT3 race cars and provide support. UK-based M-Sport will assemble the 5.4L Coyote-based V8 engines, developed by Ford Performance, powering each of these new GT3 muscle cars.
Along with the carbon fiber body panels, the Ford Mustang GT3 race car features a bespoke short-long arm suspension, rear-mounted transaxle gearbox, and an FIA-GT3 homologated aero kit.
Proton Competition Becomes First WEC Customer Team for Mustang GT3
Before going to Le Mans in 2024, the Mustang GT3 will compete in various GT3 series across the globe in the hands of customer teams.
Along with luring the Flying Lizard Porsche livery designer, Ford Performance has also announced that Germany’s Proton Competition, a longtime Porsche team, will be the first customer for the new Mustang GT3. Proton intends to campaign a pair of Mustang GT3 race cars in the FIA World Endurance Championship, starting in 2024.
While Proton Competition is to be a customer for FIA WEC racing, Ford Performance will also field a two-car factory race program with in the IMSA GTD Pro class. This Multimatic Motorsports managed team will fire up the racing season come January during the 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
The new Ford Mustang Dark Horse GT3 won’t have to look far for some competition. Just across town, Chevrolet is readying a new GT3 race car of its own. The C8 Corvette Z06 GT3.R will also enter its inaugural racing season next year, and looks to sell to as many as 10 cars to customers for $735,000 a pop. Ford Performance hasn’t disclosed the price of the new Mustang GT3 up front, but race teams that are interested can inquire about fielding one here.
As for a potential road version of the new GT3 Mustang, mum’s the word. For now.
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