The all-new seventh-generation Ford Mustang represents a complete shift in The Blue Oval’s motorsports efforts, spearheaded by the Mustang Dark Horse which has charged onto the racing scene with the Dark Horse S, Dark Horse R, GT3, and GT4. The GT3 debuted in June 2023 harnessing a modified version of the naturally-aspirated Ford 5.0L V8 Coyote powerhouse that displaces 5.4 liters, and The Blue Oval recently unveiled the all-new GT4 as well. Then, FoMoCo teased the aggressive Mustang Dark Horse R, a track-only edition of the high-performance pony car ahead of its reveal. Now, the veil has been pulled off the Mustang Dark Horse R.
Based on the street legal Mustang Dark Horse, the Mustang Dark Horse R exists as an approachable middle ground between the “regular” (street legal) Dark Horse and the GT3 and GT4 race cars. The naturally aspirated 5.0L V8 engine, good for 500 horsepower and 418 pound-feet of torque, is mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The powertrain boasts several powertrain upgrades such as an improved oil delivery system, transmission and differential cooling, with a Borla exhaust rumbling beneath it.
Other race-ready upgrades include a full roll cage, Multimatic DSSV dampers, anti-roll bars with adjustability and adjustable front camber plates. A set of Brembo brakes provides stopping power behind a set of unique race-ready wheels wrapped in racing slicks. The Dark Horse R also features front and rear tow hooks for ease of towing for those worst-case scenarios.
Inside, the Ford Mustang Dark Horse R features a Recaro FIA racing seat and a quick-release racing steering wheel, a fire suppression system for safety and a racing fuel cell.
The Ford Mustang Dark Horse R is a lot of car – and unsurprisingly, it goes for a pretty penny: the track-ready pony car starts at $145,000. The Blue Oval hopes that buyers of this aggressive race car will compete in the all-new Mustang Challenge racing division, which is sanctioned by IMSA. There will be 10 to 12 races scheduled in this series for the 2024, so expect to see this Mustang Dark Horse R on track soon.
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Comments
Nice to see all the Mustang Racing equipment coming to fruition! 2024 should be a fun and exciting year for Ford and Mustang fans!