Ford launches new GT3 Mustang at Le Mans

Ford has officially launched the Mustang GT3, which could one day compete at the Bathurst 12 Hour.

The Blue Oval will return to Le Mans in 2024, with the car unveiled at the French circuit overnight.

The GT3 Mustang is based on the seventh-generation, road-going Mustang.

Ford also unveiled a new brand identity for its Ford Performance division, with a striking livery and ‘FP’ logo displayed.

The seventh-generation Mustang made its racing debut in Australia in the Repco Supercars Championship this year.

The seventh-generation Mustang will also join the NASCAR Cup Series in 2024.

Next year, the GT3 model will enter sportscar racing, with Multimatic involved with Ford in development of the Mustang.

M-Sport, meanwhile, helped build the 5.4 litre Coyote V8 engine.

German squad Proton Competition is set to run two entries of the Mustang GT3 in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) next year.

The WEC season includes the famous Le Mans 24 Hours, which Ford won four times on the trot between 1966 and 1969.

A manufacturer is limited to two cars in the new LMGT3 class for 2024.

Ford will also run a two-car factory program in IMSA’s GTD Pro class, beginning with the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January.

Ford also said the car would compete in a number of other GT3 categories.

That could include the Bathurst 12 Hour, with the car eligible to compete in 2025 due to international regulations.

“Ford and Le Mans are bound together by history,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said.

"And now we’re coming back to the most dramatic, most rewarding and most important race in the world.

"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."

The 2024 Bathurst 12 Hour will be held on February 16-18.