| Category | One-make racing by Ford |
|---|---|
| Country | North America |
| Inaugural season | 2024 |
| Constructors | Ford |
| Tyre suppliers | Michelin |
| Official website | Mustang Challenge |
 Current season | |
The IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge is a one-make racing series that takes place in North America featuring Ford Mustang Dark Horse R race cars. The series is sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association.
The unveiling of the seventh-generation Ford Mustang brought with it a slew of special editions and motorsport activations, including the introduction of the Dark Horse R track edition in July 2023. [1] The car resembles the track day-focused Dark Horse S, but features unique wheels and a racing fuel cell on top of the FIA roll cage, tow hooks, upgraded brakes, rear wing, and re-designed exhaust system featured on the Dark Horse S. [2] The Dark Horse R additionally features a six-speed manual gearbox and an anti-lock braking system, with a base price of approximately $150,000. [3]
Alongside the car's announcement came the launch of a new spec racing series, dubbed the Mustang Challenge, which was initially set to support six IMSA race weekends in 2024. The series would be managed by the Ford Performance Racing School and officially sanctioned by IMSA. [4] Entries would additionally race on bespoke Michelin tires, and top finishers would receive contingency payouts at each race event as well as at the conclusion of the season. [5] The champion, for instance, received a cash prize of $40,000 or a $100,000 scholarship towards a seat in a Ford Mustang GT3 or GT4 entry. [6] This allowed the series to operate as the first step of an internal ladder for Ford Performance's GT-racing efforts, in which drivers could begin competing in Mustang Challenge races before progressing to a GT3 seat through exceptional performance. [7]
The 2024 calendar was officially announced in October 2023, featuring five race weekends totaling ten race events. The season began at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in June, before visiting Watkins Glen International and Road America in support of the IMSA SportsCar Championship later in the summer. The Mustang Challenge then joined the FIA World Endurance Championship at Circuit of the Americas and the Intercontinental GT Challenge at Indianapolis to conclude its inaugural season. [6] The class structure was also finalized, featuring an at-large Dark Horse class alongside an optional Dark Horse Legends class for Bronze-rated drivers over the age of 45. [8] The series' inaugural event at Mid-Ohio welcomed 26 entries, including Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley, who piloted the #17 entry for MDK Motorsports. [9] Tyler Maxson scored the series' first ever pole position, [10] while Robert Noaker won the series' inaugural race. [11]
Following the series' inaugural round, an invitational round supporting the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans was announced. [12]
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (2024)
Watkins Glen International (2024)
Road America (2024)
Circuit of the Americas (2024)
Indianapolis Motor Speedway (2024)
Sebring International Raceway (2025)
Laguna Seca (2025)
Virginia International Raceway (2025)
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The 2018 IMSA SportsCar Championship was the 48th motor racing championship sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). It was the fifth season of the United SportsCar Championship and third to be held under the name as the IMSA SportsCar Championship. It began on January 27 with the 24 Hours of Daytona, and ended on October 13 with the Petit Le Mans.
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The 2021 SportsCar Challenge at Mid-Ohio, known for sponsorship reasons as the 2021 Acura SportsCar Challenge, was a sports car race held at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course near Lexington, Ohio on May 16, 2021. The race is the third round of the 2021 IMSA SportsCar Championship, and the first round of the 2021 WeatherTech GT Daytona Sprint Cup.
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The 2023 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge was the inaugural season of the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge. The season began on January 20 at Daytona International Speedway and concluded on October 14 at Road Atlanta.
The 2023 Michelin Pilot Challenge was the twenty-fourth season of the IMSA SportsCar Challenge and the tenth season organized by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). The season began on January 26 at Daytona International Speedway and concludes on October 14 at Road Atlanta.
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The field... will be split into two classes – Dark Horse and Dark Horse Legends... an optional classification eligible to bronze-level drivers 45 years old and over.