I’m going to go forward and assume that if I say “GT3,” the very first thing you image in your thoughts might be some tremendous spicy, ass-engined wallet-seeking missile from Stuttgart, proper? And I can virtually assure that nowhere in there may be a Ford Mustang floating round. Solely which may change as a result of Ford introduced the Mustang GT3 race automobile on Friday at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and buddies, it’s a banger.
The automobile relies on the 2024 Ford Mustang Darkish Horse and is ready to compete within the FIA’s GT3 class (therefore the identify) beginning subsequent 12 months. It’s powered by an M-Sport-built 5.4-liter Coyote V8 engine (which suggests it can sound bonkers at full track) in addition to a bespoke short-long arm suspension, a rear transaxle, a carbon fiber physique and a brand new aero bundle (as a result of racecar). Multimatic might be constructing and supporting the vehicles themselves.
“Ford and Le Mans are certain collectively by historical past. And now we’re coming again to essentially the most dramatic, most rewarding and most essential race on the earth,” mentioned Jim Farley, CEO of Ford Motor Firm, in an announcement. “It isn’t Ford versus Ferrari anymore. It’s Ford versus everybody. Going again to Le Mans is the start of constructing a worldwide motorsports enterprise with Mustang, similar to we’re doing with Bronco and Raptor off-road.”
Ford already has a buyer workforce signed as much as take the Mustang GT3 racing, too. Proton Competitors of Ehingen, Germany, might be campaigning a pair of the potent ponies subsequent 12 months, so we are able to sit up for listening to them howl round all of Europe’s finest tracks. However wait, as they are saying, there’s extra. Ford itself will run a pair of vehicles (with the Multimatic Motorsports people) in IMSA’s GTD Professional, with the vehicles set to debut at Daytona in January.
