Sixty years after the Ford Mustang first roared onto the automotive scene, the iconic seventh-generation Mustang is set to take on the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the pinnacle of endurance racing, this month. This marks a significant return to the legendary race, aligning with Ford’s rich racing heritage and commitment to performance.
The Mustang’s racing legacy dates back to its competitive debut during the 1964 Tour de France de Automobile, just five months after its introduction. Since then, the Mustang has been a formidable presence in various racing circuits, including NASCAR, NHRA, IMSA, Australian Supercars, and Formula Drift.
“The Ford Mustang has raced in circuits across the world for decades, and now is the time for us to race our iconic coupe at the most important race in the world,” said Jim Farley, Ford Motor Company CEO. “Ford has a rich history at Le Mans dating back to the first race in 1923, and we are excited to return to the global stage in what promises to be one of the most exciting races of the modern era.”
Although the Mustang has previously competed at Le Mans – with entries in 1967 and 1997 – 2024 marks its first intentional campaign within the World Endurance Championship circuit. Ford’s return is powered by the expertise of longtime collaborators Multimatic Motorsports and M-Sport, with the team being managed by Germany-based Proton Competition.
Ford’s Le Mans legacy is storied, highlighted by the Ford GT40’s historic victories over European rivals in the late 1960s and the triumphant return of the Ford GT in 2016, which clinched the top spot in the LMGTE Pro category, 50 years after the GT40’s initial win.
The 92nd edition of the sold-out Le Mans, the fourth race of the FIA World Endurance Championship season, will be held on June 15-16 at Circuit de la Sarthe in France. Proton Competition will field three Mustang GT3 cars among nearly two dozen LMGT3 entrants. The No. 77 will be driven by Ryan Hardwick, Ben Baker, and Zacharie Robichon; the No. 88 will be piloted by Giorgio Roda, Dennis Olsen, and Mikkel O. Pedersen; and the No. 44 will feature Christopher Mies, John Hartshorne, and Ben Tuck.
Off the track, the Mustang GTD1 – a roadgoing version of the Mustang GT3 – will make its European debut at the Maison de Mustang in the Manufacturer Village, a fan zone offering driver autograph sessions, merchandise, and a racing simulator competition with Mustang prizes. Up to 1,000 fans can also experience the Paul Swift Precision Driving event as passengers in nearby Arnage, bookable upon arrival.
“While Mustang GT3 is the pinnacle of our sports car racing around the world, it is only one part of a far broader strategy around Mustang racing that includes our recent Mustang Challenge Series as well as GT4 and much more besides,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Performance Motorsports. “We race to win and also to build our Ford Performance community, and our hope is that fans at Le Mans get as much excitement from the off-track experiences as they get from attending the race itself. This is an exciting time to be a fan of Mustang.”
The anticipation is palpable as the Mustang GT3 gears up to compete at one of the most prestigious endurance races, promising a thrilling spectacle for racing enthusiasts worldwide.
