Ford Performance reveals plans to develop 2024 GT3 racer

In a recent press release, Ford’s motorsports division Ford Performance revealed its plans to develop a new GT3 race car that would compete in the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), including the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2024.

“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. 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,” said Ford Performance Motorsports Global Director Mark Rushbrook.

“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 program and the new Bronco DR customer race programs has shown together we can provide championship-level race programs for Ford and its customers,” Rushbrook added.

Ford Performance will work with Multimatic Motorsports to deliver the Mustang GT3. The joint program will see a two-car, factory-backed IMSA GTD Pro works team managed by Multimatic, as well as customer Mustang race cars for the GTD class starting at Daytona in 2024.

“We’re excited to work on this new IMSA program as well as the GT3 customer program with Ford Performance. We have a long, great working relationship with each other, both at the highest levels of professional sports car racing, and in developing competitive customer race program and vehicles. We appreciate their faith in us, and together, we can’t wait to show the world what’s coming down the road with Mustang,” says Multimatic Special Vehicle Operations Executive VP Larry Holt.

Ford will also tap long-time racing collaborator and world championship-winning team M-Sport to put a Ford 5.0-liter Coyote-based V8 engine under the new Mustang GT3’s hood. Both Ford Performance and M-Sport have a rich history in the FIA World Rally Championship and recently collaborated on the development and preparation of the Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1.

Aside from the race-tuned power plant, Ford said that the new Mustang GT3 will have bespoke Short-Long Arm suspensions front and rear, a rear-mounted transaxle gearbox, carbon fiber body panels, as well as a unique aero package developed to meet GT3 targets.

“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 program 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,” commented M-Sport owner Malcom Wilson.

He added, “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.”

Looking to put the 2024 GT3 pony through its paces is 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours GTE Pro class winner Joey Hand. He will not only be a test driver for the new Mustang GT3 but will also be a development driver and coach for Ford Performance. Part of his role is to sit behind the wheel of a Rick Ware Racing Ford Mustang for six NASCAR Cup road course races in 2022.

“It’s awesome to be on the ground floor of another amazing sports car racing program with Ford. As much as I like to compete and win on the track, I also enjoy being part of the development of new race vehicles like this Mustang. We did a lot of testing with the Ford GT program, so it will be great to be working again with a lot of the same people at Ford and Multimatic as we get this car ready for competition,” said Hand.

Photos from Ford 

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