Ford expands motorsport programme with GT3 plans
Ford has expanded its global motorsport programme, revealing plans to develop a GT3 version of its Mustang.
Ford Performance announced on the eve of this weekend’s Rolex 24 At Daytona that it will field a two-car factory-backed effort in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
The iconic marque will also supply cars to customers to compete in the sister GTD class come 2024.
The announcement further expands Ford’s portfolio, with factory-backed programmes in Supercars, NASCAR and the World Rally Championship.
It also opens the door for a Mustang GT3 to be raced at the Bathurst 12 Hour in future.
The new Ford Mustang GT Gen3 prototype recently tested at Queensland Raceway alongside the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.
Last weekend, M-Sport Ford scored victory at the WRC season-opening Monte Carlo Rally with its new Rally1 Puma.
UK-based M-Sport will build the Ford Performance-developed 5.0-litre Coyote-based V8 for the new Mustang GT3.
M-Sport is no stranger to GT3 competition, having skippered Bentley’s successful Bathurst 12 Hour campaign in 2020.
Our return to global sports car racing will be led by the #FordMustang GT3, due to debut in 2024, with a new Mustang GT4 bound for the 2023 season. Welcome home! 🐎 pic.twitter.com/X5j1Mpho9x
— Ford Performance (@FordPerformance) January 28, 2022
M-Sport also became the official British Touring Car Championship engine supplier, which uses Ford engine architecture.
Ford Performance will also work with Multimatic Motorsports to develop the Mustang GT3.
Ford also announced plans to develop a new Mustang GT4, which is expected to debut in 2023.
"Mustang was born to race from the start and we’re thrilled to introduce the GT3 version to compete head-to-head against some of the greatest manufacturers in the world," Ford Performance Motorsports global director Mark Rushbrook said.
"With 58 years of global endurance racing heritage, including NASCAR and Australian Supercars today, we are ready to take Mustang to the next level of global performance.
"There’s no question that Multimatic Motorsports is the perfect partner on this project for us.
"Not only have they worked with us to develop numerous customer Mustang programs in the past, but its work on the Ford GT programme and the new Bronco DR customer race programmes has shown together we can provide championship-level race programs for Ford and its customers.”
M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson added: "We are delighted to be broadening our relationship with Ford and extending it into the racing world after a very successful 25 years together in the World Rally Championship, which is once again delivering stunning results with the Puma Hybrid Rally1.
"M-Sport has a wealth and depth of circuit racing knowledge and expertise, particularly from our GT3 programme that used an M-Sport developed V8 engine for GT3 that powered us to victory in the 2020 Bathurst 12-hour race and 2019 1000km of Paul Ricard.
"Our most recent engine project has seen us become the official British Touring Car Championship engine supplier which also uses Ford engine architecture.
"We are very excited about working directly with Ford Performance and Multimatic on the Mustang GT3 and will be working very hard, leaving no stone unturned as we join forces to fight for more victories around the world."
