Mustang GT3 S650 Racer Begins Homologation Testing
Making a GT3 race car that is production based, meets international racing rules, and is competitive takes some time.
Making a race car isn’t easy. Just ask Mark Rushbrook. He’s the global motorsports director at Ford Performance. He’s the one responsible for the Mustang GT3 S650 racer. GT3, for those who need a refresher is the same production car class that Ford utilized to race the GT at Le Mans. But it’s also the class where Ferrari races the 488, Porsche the 911, Lamborghini the Huracan, McLaren the 720S… You get the idea. A Mustang here is definitely poised to upset the applecart.
In an interview with Sportscar365, Rushbrook explains that the best approach for the GT3 Mustang would be to make sure it can race globally. Rushbrook told SC365, there are so many great series they have around the world that we can take Mustang — as the best-selling global sports car in the world — and race it around the world.”
But the thing is, all of those series have ever so slightly different rules. Granted, most series that have GT3 and GT4 cars have a fairly universal set of rules. But that still doesn’t make homologation easy. And competitive performance isn’t outlined by rules.
Rushbrook indicates the new S650 chassis will begin testing this month. Multimatic, the UK based outfit that prepared the Le Mans Ford GTs will be giving the same treatment to the S650. And even though the Mustang is a lesser performing production car, it actually has a number of advantages over the mid engine hypercar. The ability to be in multiple series with customer teams wasn’t possible with the exotic nature of the Ford GT. It also means the operating costs of the Mustang will potentially be more reasonable for teams. Important, since endurance racing isn’t exactly cheap.
Planned global roll out is 2024, with American IMSA and French WEC series to be dialed in first. After that the plan is to be truly global.
Ford has had GT4 Mustangs in the past as well, and will continue that program with the S650. GT4 racing is one class below GT3, so you won’t see these at Le Mans, but you will see them at various SRO weekends throughout the U.S.
Photos: Ford
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