FOR 2024, THE BLUE OVAL RETURNS TO 24 HOURS OF LE MANS WITH THE DARK HORSE-BASED MUSTANG GT3

So by the time you read this, the 2023 instalment of the famed endurance race will have happened, but luckily what you see here is billed to compete at the next round in a year's time, 2024. The Ford Mustang GT3 is set to compete at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans race in the FIA GT3 class of 2024. It’s been four years since there was a Ford entry, and with this car based on the new Mustang Dark Horse, we’re sure the car will do well to hold the Ford brand high. We're happy a Ford will be seen on track, it will give Ford fans something to cheer for, especially since unwritten rivals, Chevrolet made so much fanfare about its entry into the 2023 race with a NASCAR-derived Camaro. While the car will be specially set up (talking suspension settings and gear ratios) for a stint around Circuit de la Sarthe for 24 hours, the Mustang GT3 can be bought directly from Ford as a turnkey racecar, and if the car does its job during the race, it could end up being one of those “win on Sunday (the weekend), sell on Monday” stories. A great race result will inspire confidence in the car, hopefully resulting in worldwide orders for one of these by private and professional race teams alike. To make it even more visually appealing, the Le Lans entry Mustang GT3 features an amazing new race livery that incorporates the Ford Performance logo, designed by renowned motorsports designer Troy Lee of Troy Lee Designs. It's the first time he’s worked with Ford, and after seeing this car, we’re pretty sure it won’t be the last time. “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, CEO, Ford Motor Company. “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.”

That logo that was added to the livery will look a little different to those that pay attention to these things. This is because this Mustang GT3 unveiling doubled as a way to also reveal the new, global Ford Performance branding that will be seen on all its racing vehicles from here on out. The new, cleaner Ford Performance logo is easier to integrate across Ford’s various environments and spaces, including car liveries, merchandise and everything else you usually see the logo on. For this Le Mans project, Ford Performance extended its relationship with two longtime partners - Multimatic and M-Sport. Multimatic are chaps behind the iconic Ford GT and were also involved in the Ford GT, will be responsible for building and supporting the Mustang GT3. Longtime World Rally Championship partner, M-Sport will assemble the Ford Performance-developed 5.4-litre Coyote-based V8 engines set aside for this endeavour.  “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 a bespoke short-long arm suspension, rear-mounted transaxle gearbox, carbon fibre body panels, as well as a unique aero package developed to meet FIA GT3 specifications. For racers and teams interested in buying a Mustang GT3 for competition use, head on over and check out the requirements on the Ford Performance website.

Take a look at the YouTube video showing off Ford's racing history with Le Mans as well as the all-new Mustang GT3 factory-built racecar that is set to do duty at next year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, giving fans of the Blue Oval something to cheer on for the first time in a few years: 2024 Mustang GT3 | Bred to Race | Ford Performance

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