Ford is set to make a grand entrance into the world of global sports car racing at the prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona, showcasing the legendary Ford Mustang at the forefront. The Mustang is all geared up to take on various races during the event, featuring GT3 vehicles competing in the GTD Pro and GTD categories, while the GT4 models will be showcasing their prowess in both the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and the IMSA VP Racing Sports Car Challenge. These extraordinary vehicles have been meticulously crafted in collaboration with Multimatic Motorsports. Mark Rushbrook, Ford Performance Motorsports’ Global Director, expressed his anticipation for unleashing the Ford Mustang GT3 and GT4 models at Daytona International Speedway for the IMSA competition.
Ford, Pro, and Multimatic have joined forces to establish a two-car, factory-supported GT3 team. The No. 64 Mustang will be piloted by Chris Mies, Mike Rockenfeller, and Harry Tincknell, while the No. 65 will be handled by Le Mans champions Joey Hand and Dirk Müller, along with Frédéric Vervisch. Both of these factory-backed vehicles are specially dedicated to commemorating the Ford Mustang’s 60th anniversary.
“Embarking on a new car’s maiden race is always a demanding task,” stated Larry Holt, Multimatic Special Vehicle Operations’ Executive Vice President. “Daytona represents the culmination of two years of intense collaboration involving Multimatic, Ford, and M-Sport, leaving no stone unturned in crafting a vehicle capable of taking on the legendary 24-hour endurance race. We are fully prepared!”
Moreover, the Mustang GT3 customer team Proton Competition is entering its GT3 car in the GTD Class, featuring drivers Dennis Olsen, Corey Lewis, Ryan Hardwick, and Giammarco Levorato behind the wheels of the No. 55 vehicle.
During the Daytona event, two customer teams are gearing up to introduce the brand-new Mustang GT4 in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series as well as the IMSA VP Racing Sports Car Challenge. KohR Motorsports is set to witness the return of Luca Mars and Bob Michaelian in the No. 59 Mustang GT4, with Mars competing simultaneously in the VP Racing Sports Car Challenge. Additionally, McCumbee McAleer Racing is all set to embrace the exciting new chapter of the Mustang, with the No. 13 car returning, driven by Chad McCumbee and Jenson Altzman in the Michelin Pilot Challenge.
The Rolex 24 at Daytona holds a special place in Ford Motor Company’s history, boasting multiple racing triumphs ranging from the initial victory in 1966 to the most recent class triumph in 2017 with the Ford GTLM.
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