The Ford Performance Mustang GT3 race car, based on the all-new 2024 Mustang Dark Horse, was unveiled ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The manufacturer also revealed new, global Ford Performance branding that will now be featured on all its racing vehicles.
With the reveal, Ford officially enters Mustang into the global FIA GT3 category.
“Ford and Le Mans are bound together by history. And now we’re coming back to the most dramatic, most rewarding and most important race in the world,” said Jim Farley, Ford CEO. “It is not Ford versus Ferrari anymore. It is Ford versus everyone. Going back to Le Mans is the beginning of building a global motorsports business with Mustang, just like we are doing with Bronco and Raptor off-road.”
For the development of the Mustang GT3, Ford Performance extended its relationship with two longtime partners in Multimatic and M-Sport. Multimatic, builders of the Ford GT, were also involved in the Ford GT race program and will help build and support the Mustang GT3s, while longtime World Rally Championship partner and two-time championship winning team M-Sport will assemble the Ford Performance-developed 5.4-liter Coyote-based V8 engines that power the car, Ford said.
The Mustang GT3 race car features a bespoke short-long arm suspension, rear-mounted transaxle gearbox, carbon fiber body panels, as well as a unique aero package developed to meet GT3 targets. It also boasts a new livery from motorsports designer, Troy Lee.
Before appearing at Le Mans in 2024, the Mustang GT3 will compete in various GT3 series across the globe in the hands of customer teams.
The first customer team is Proton Competition. Based in Ehingen, Germany, Proton intends to campaign a pair of Mustang GT3s in the FIA World Endurance Championship, starting in 2024.
Ford Performance will also field a two-car factory race program with Mustang GT3 in IMSA’s GTD Pro class. This will be managed by Multimatic Motorsports and begin at the 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
