A stunning new motorsport hero might assist save the petrol-powered Ford Mustang from extinction.
The newest racing model of the Mustang, referred to as the GT3, is being readied to race throughout the globe in a program that will likely be focussed on the Le Mans 24-Hour race in 2024.
The Mustang GT3 can even compete in Australia from 2025, in a program completely separate from the Blue Oval model’s involvement in Supercars racing.
The important thing to the GT3 program is that, as a substitute of costing Ford cash from its advertising and marketing finances, it’ll develop into a revenue centre.
Tons of of Mustang GT3 racers will likely be constructed over the lifetime of the mannequin, all of them offered to personal groups, and the halo impact may very well be just like the racing connection that has stored the Porsche 911 alive and thriving.
Porsche is likely one of the most profitable manufacturers in GT3 racing, however the road-based racers additionally embrace automobiles from Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Lamborghini and McLaren.
“This actually does take Mustang international. It’s telling the world our dedication, as we’re pursuing all these cool electrical autos that are vital for us as an organization and for the world, there’s nonetheless additionally a spot for inner combustion engines and sports activities coupes,” the worldwide head of Ford Efficiency, Mark Rushbrook, informed CarExpert.
“Having the seventh-generation Mustang in racing provides us a pleasant lengthy runway on the street automotive. It provides us that very same lengthy runway with race automobiles as properly.
“GT3 (racing) is a worldwide class. It’s in Europe and South-East Asia and the ’states.”
Mr Rushbrook attracts a direct connection between racing the Mustang and preserving the mannequin alive, even because the Mustang Mach-E begins the push for a variety of battery-electric fashions that may very well be offered below the Mustang sub-brand.
“It is crucial, as we provide a full ladder of Mustang street automobiles, to supply the identical full ladder of Mustang race automobiles,” he stated.
“And to have that chance to inform the story of street coupes that race.
“So folks will nonetheless have Mustangs on the street they usually’ll be capable of go to the racetrack and see them race, or race themselves. There’s lots of people that need to do this.”
The primary Ford Mustang to compete with the seventh-generation bodywork, coming to Australian showrooms quickly, was the Supercars racer that now goes head-to-head with the competitors model of the Chevrolet Camaro.
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Mustang Supercar
However these are custom-built race automobiles with silhouette bodywork to reflect the Ford and Chevrolet street automobiles.
The Mustang GT3 has a way more radical look, however is constructed from the fundamentals of the street automotive with its Coyote V8 engine.
The identical will likely be true of the Mustang GT4 – which may have fewer modifications – that may observe the GT3 racer.
“The race automotive begins as a body-in-white just like the manufacturing automotive. There are clearly modifications … as a way to get the precise construction and optimised suspension,” he stated.
Mr Rushbrook stated the Mustang GT3 is way extra radical than the Supercars contender, and describes it because the most-advanced Mustang but.
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Mustang Darkish Horse
“Completely. By an element. I’m simply taking a look at it, in comparison with a Supercar, and it’s from a distinct planet,” he stated.
Mr Rushbrook can’t get into the monetary particulars of the Mustang GT3, both the value or the variety of automobiles that will likely be inbuilt a partnership with British firms Multimatic (our bodies) or M-Sport (engines), however he’s bullish about this system.
“We’ve got a variety of curiosity. There are folks in Australia. And likewise for the Mustang GT4,” he stated.
“There’s a variety of curiosity all over the world for these automobiles. Once we first stated we have been going to do that, which was January of 2022 – and in addition with the Darkish Horse (mannequin) thrown in – there’s a variety of curiosity.”