All of the Ford global performance vehicles going head-to-head on one track makes for an epic video.
Ford Motor Company wanted to showcase their lineup of high performance vehicles, so they put them all on a road course, at the same time. Oh, and they were piloted by their team of LeMans-winning endurance racers. Ford has the broadest lineup of performance vehicles in the global market. Naturally, this made for a very unique road race including a Mustang GT, Shelby GT350, a Raptor, the Ford GT race car and a few of the company’s other go-fast machines.
The Competitors
The video above from Ford Motor Company was filmed at the Ciudad del Motor de Aragón road course facility in Spain. On track are eight Ford performance vehicles, including the F-150 Raptor, the current Fiesta ST, and new Fiesta ST, the Focus RS, the 2018 Mustang GT, the Shelby GT350R, the GT road car and the GT LeMans race car. Each of those vehicles are driven by one of Ford’s endurance drivers and below, we have put together a simple list of the vehicles and drivers.
F-150 Raptor – Ryan Briscoe
2017 Fiesta ST – Dirk Muller
2018 Fiesta ST – Harry Tincknell
Focus RS – Richard Westbrook
2018 Mustang GT – Stefan Mucke
Shelby GT350R – Joey Hand
GT Road Car – Olivier Pla
GT Race Car – Andy Priaulx
The Race Setup
Some of you are likely wondering how a road race between the F-150 Raptor, the Shelby GT350R Mustang and the Ford GT race car is going to be run, since they all offer vastly different levels of capability on a curvy road course. To make up for that, Ford staggered the start, based on their respective lap times.
The Raptor starts first and 11 seconds later, the 2017 Fiesta ST starts. Two seconds after that, the new 2018 Fiesta ST leaves the starting box and five seconds later, the Focus RS launches. The Mustang GT starts 21 seconds after the Raptor. The GT350R starts with a 31-second delay, and the GT road car starts with a 38-second handicap. As for the GT race car, it launches last – 48 seconds after the F-150 headed out.
As you might imagine, the staggered start leads to a well-timed battle through the final turns. However, it all comes down to the race car and supercar, which, surprise, surprise, win the one-lap race.
Predictable, maybe, but this footage of Ford’s performance vehicles duking it out on a road course is awesome. It is also offers an interesting look, and unusual lap time comparison,at their go-fast lineup in action.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
