Ford Mustang GT3

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Ford Mustang GT3
2024 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps Proton Competition Ford Mustang GT3 No.88 (DSC03747).jpg
The Ford Mustang GT3 being driven at the 2024 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps
Category IMSA SportsCar Championship (GTD Pro & GTD)
FIA World Endurance Championship (LMGT3)
GT World Challenge Europe
Constructor Flag of the United States.svg Ford (Multimatic)
Designer(s) Anthony Colard (Design Manager, Ford Performance) [1]
Technical specifications
Engine Ford Coyote 5.4  L (330  cu in) V8 naturally aspirated, Front-engine
Transmission Xtrac racing transaxle with ESA shift 6-speed sequential manual
Power550  hp (410  kW)
Weight1289 kg
Fuel TotalEnergies (WEC)
VP Racing Fuels (IMSA)
Competition history
Notable entrants Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Multimatic Motorsports
Flag of Germany.svg Proton Competition
Notable drivers Flag of Germany.svg Mike Rockenfeller
Flag of the United States.svg Joey Hand
Flag of Germany.svg Christopher Mies
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Harry Tincknell
Debut 2024 24 Hours of Daytona

The Ford Mustang GT3 is a racing car designed and developed by Ford Performance and Multimatic Motorsports according to GT3 regulations. [2] [3] In 2022 it was announced that the Ford Mustang GT3 is in development. The car is the race variant of the seventh-generation edition of the Ford Mustang. It was unveiled as part of the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 9, 2023. Its first race was the 2024 24 Hours of Daytona. It competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship and the FIA WEC as well as other major GT races such as the 24 Hours of Spa. The German racing team Proton Competition has been confirmed as the first customer team to run the Ford Mustang GT3. [4]

Contents

Powertrain

The Ford Mustang GT3 car is powered by 5.4-litre naturally aspirated Ford Coyote-based V8 which was developed by Ford Performance and their long-term partner in the World Rally Championship M-Sport. For better weight distribution they moved the Six speed Xtrac racing transaxle with ESA shift to the rear axle. Also, there are Bosch Motorsport MS6.4 ECU, Four-plate AP racing clutch as well as MEGA-line E-clutch actuation built into the car. [5]

Chassis

The chassis is based on the seventh-generation Mustang. It features a FIA homologated fully-integrated compliant racing cage as well as other safety devices. It has Multimatic five-way adjustable DSSV dampers, a double wishbone suspension on both axles and Alcon brake discs. [5] The Ford is equipped with a highly developed aero-package and has quickly replaceable parts of carbon fiber bodywork which caused some issues in the races when boot lids and diffusers came loose or completely fell off the race cars. [6]

Teams

TeamCompetitionEntries
Flag of the United States.svg Gradient Racing IMSA SportsCar Championship (GTD class: from 2025)IMSA: #66
Flag of Germany.svg Haupt Racing Team Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters,
GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup,
Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie / Nürburgring 24 Hours (SP9 class) (from 2025)
DTM: #68, #TBC
GTWC Europe: #TBC
NLS/N24: #TBC
Flag of Germany.svg Proton Competition FIA WEC,
GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup, [7]
IMSA SportsCar Championship (GTD class)
WEC: #77, #88
GTWC Europe: #64
IMSA: #55
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Multimatic Motorsports IMSA SportsCar Championship (GTD Pro class)IMSA: #64, #65

Successes

In its first season the Ford Mustang GT3 experienced a couple of tough races. Even though some problems [6] the #64 Ford run by Multimatic Motorsports achieved a second-place finish at Virginia International Raceway in the GTD Pro class. On the same race weekend the Mustang by Proton Competition also achieved the first pole position for a Ford Mustang GT3 car. [8]

However, the biggest achievement was the podium at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans when the #88 scored a third place at the famous race. [9]

Racing results

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

(key) Races in bold indicates pole position. Races in italics indicates fastest lap.

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results
YearEntrantClassDriversNo.Rds.RoundsPos.Pts.
12345678910
2024 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ford Multimatic Motorsports GTD Pro Flag of Germany.svg Mike Rockenfeller
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Harry Tincknell
Flag of Germany.svg Christopher Mies
64All
All
1-2
DAY
6
SEB
7
LGA
9
DET
11
WGL
5
MOS
4
ELK
10
VIR
2
IMS
PET
8th*2176*
Flag of the United States.svg Joey Hand
Flag of Germany.svg Dirk Müller
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Frédéric Vervisch
65All
All
1-2
DAY
9
SEB
8
LGA
8
DET
6
WGL
10
MOS
7
ELK
8
VIR
4
IMS
PET
9th*2070*
Flag of Germany.svg Proton Competition GTD Flag of Italy.svg Giammarco Levorato
Flag of the United States.svg Corey Lewis
Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Hardwick
Flag of Norway.svg Dennis Olsen
55All
All
1-2, 5
1
DAY
20
SEB
16
LBH
5
LGA
7
WGL
17
MOS
12
ELK
8
VIR
8
IMS
PET
13th*1731*

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

(key) Races in bold indicates pole position. Races in italics indicates fastest lap.

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results
YearEntrantClassDriversNo.Rds.RoundsPos.Pts.
12345678
2024 Flag of Germany.svg Proton Competition LMGT3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Hartshorne
Flag of Germany.svg Christopher Mies
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Tuck
444
4
4
QAT
IMO
SPA
LMS
4
SAP
COA
FUJ
BHR
NC*0*
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Barker
Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Hardwick
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Zacharie Robichon
77All
All
All
QAT
11
IMO
9
SPA
9
LMS
17
SAP
7
COA
6
FUJ
BHR
14th*18*
Flag of Norway.svg Dennis Olsen
Flag of Denmark.svg Mikkel O. Pedersen
Flag of Italy.svg Giorgio Roda
Flag of Germany.svg Christian Ried
Flag of the United States.svg Ben Keating
88All
All
1-4
5, 7
6
QAT
9
IMO
Ret
SPA
8
LMS
3
SAP
13
COA
NC
FUJ
BHR
9th*37*

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References

  1. "Anthony Colard: designer des Mustang GTD et GT3" [Anthony Colard: designer of the Mustang GTD and GT3]. Pony 'N Snake. September 3, 2024. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  2. Ford (September 3, 2024). "Ford Mustang® GT3 Race Car". www.ford.com. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  3. Multimatic Motorsports (September 3, 2024). "Ford Mustang® GT3 Bred to Race". www.multimaticmotorsports.com. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  4. Ford Media (June 9, 2023). "Ford kehrt 2024 mit dem Mustang GT3 in den GT-Rennsport und zu den 24 Stunden von Le Mans zurück". media.ford.com. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Ford Performance and Multimatic Motorsports (August 5, 2024). "FORD MUSTANG GT3: BRED TO RACE" (PDF). www.multimaticmotorsports.com. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Purcell, Alexandra (May 11, 2024). "FIA approves fix for Ford Mustang GT3". fordauthority.com. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  7. GT World Challenge Europe (September 4, 2024). "Proton Competition Ford Mustang GT3". www.gt-world-challenge-europe.com. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  8. MediaProton (August 25, 2024). "Proton Competition holt in Virginia die weltweit erste Pole für den neuen Ford Mustang GT3". proton-competition.com. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  9. MediaProton (June 16, 2024). "Podium in Le Mans für Proton Competition und den Ford Mustang GT3". proton-competition.com. Retrieved September 4, 2024.