Ford Mustang GT3 Unveiled at Le Mans

Ahead of the centenary edition of the Le Mans 24 Hour race, Ford has dropped some big news, revealing the bold and colourful Ford Mustang GT3 and announcing its intention to compete in next year's race. Ford has had a long-standing historic connection with Le Mans and its Ford GT40 was forever immortalised in history since its win in 1966.

Based on the 2024 Mustang Dark Horse, renowned motorsport designer Troy Lee designed the Mustang GT3 race car in his first foray with Ford race cars. Also involved in the build were Multimatic, builders of the iconic Ford GT and involved in the Ford GT race program, as well as M-Sport, the World Rally Championship partner which assembled the Ford Performance-developed 5.4-litre Coyote-based V8 engines that power the Mustang GT3.

“For a project like the Mustang GT3, we turned to two of our most trusted partners in the motorsports world to help bring this vehicle and program together,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “I know we’ll all be as thrilled as Ford fans when Mustang begins racing at the highest levels of GT racing in 2024.’

The Mustang GT3 race car features include a bespoke short-long arm suspension, rear-mounted transaxle gearbox, carbon fibre body panels, and a unique aero package developed to meet GT3 targets.

Previously, the last we’d seen of this car came in the form of images and video released from Ford during a test session at Sebring in March. Judging by the video, it looked rapid but was covered in carbon fibre and far from the finished product.

Proton Competition has already been confirmed as its first customer team. The team operating out of Ehingen, Germany intends to race a pair of Mustang GT3s in the FIA World Endurance Championship next year.

Managed by Multimatic Motorsports, Ford Performance will also be involved, fielding a pair of Mustang GT3s in ISMA’s GTD Pro class, beginning at the iconic Daytona track. Further news of competition is surely due to follow soon as Ford gears towards the one of biggest races in motorsport, the Le Mans 24 Hour race.

In other news from the Blue Oval, Ford has revealed new, global Ford Performance branding. A cleaner, simplified look will now be featured on all its racing vehicles and integrated across various environments and spaces, including car liveries, merchandise and advertising.

Words: Mike Booth
Pictures: Ford