The Blue Oval took to the streets of Motor City in the Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic on June 1st, 2024 with a team of Ford Mustang GT3 race cars that sported a paint scheme celebrating 60 years of Mustang history. One of those racing machines was driven by Joey Hand, and he later put pen to paper to reminisce about his experience both on and off the track in Detroit. While he didn’t post the finish he was hoping for, he was thrilled to be immersed in Ford’s history.
In a column on Sportscar365, Hand recounted his experience in the Ford Mustang GT3 at Detroit both on and off the track. The weekend kicked off with a tour of the Flat Rock Assembly plant, where the Mustang is assembled. Hand – and a handful of other racers who carry the Ford banner in IMSA – was given the chance to meet the people responsible for building the pony car.
“It was incredible to see the Mustang being built and to meet some of the employees who have a hand in the production,” Hand wrote. “I was amazed because it’s difficult to put the sheer number of Mustangs going down the line in a single day into perspective.”
After visiting Ford campuses, Hand set his sights on the Detroit Classic. His No. 65 Ford Mustang GT3, dressed in the Champion Spirit livery, was quick in practice, but lagged a bit in qualifying. Even so, Hand and his codriver, Dirk Miller, attacked the streets on race day with intent to win.
However, their Mustang racer was damaged in a late-race incident, taking on slight rear-end damage after contact with a competitor. His crew went to work putting the race car back together and they were able to return to the track, finishing sixth in the GTD division, the best for his team so far.
“I’ve said it before but the things we’re learning in the background as a team will pay off,” Hand said. “We’re getting better with pit-stops and reacting urgently when we’re faced with adversity. That’s all the stuff we need to be good at when we have the potential to win a race. So overall: we had a good weekend in Ford’s backyard.”
Subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Mustang news and non-stop Ford news coverage.
Comment
Sounds like a fun time! Keep at it, it’ll soon pay the benefits your team is looking to achieve.