Ryan Hardwick Optimistic About Ford Mustang GT3 At Le Mans

Part of the all-new string of Mustang race cars, the Ford Mustang GT3 and GT4 first hit the track in January to compete in the 24 Hours of Daytona. Since then, The Blue Oval has learned quite a bit about the Mustang race cars, although the automaker is still struggling with the mandated torque sensors – but progress is being made. Looking ahead to Le Mans this weekend, the Ford racers are optimistic about their upcoming 24-hour run, and Ryan Hardwick jotted his thoughts down as he prepares for his own stint in a Mustang GT3.

In a column on Sportscar365, Hardwick says that he’s excited to have the chance to drive a Ford race car at the historic Le Mans track in what is arguably the most iconic endurance race in the world. Hardwick has been partial to The Blue Oval for most of his life, pointing out that his first daily driver was a 1995 Ford Mustang GT.

“Now I have the opportunity to race the biggest endurance race in the world with Ford and Mustang, and to think I’ll be one of the first guys to drive it down the Mulsanne straight is incredible,” Hardwick writes. “I’ve come a long way from back when I was 16 years old, driving my Mustang GT through the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. As an American driver, I have a great passion for Ford.”

Hardwick is already an accomplished endurance racer, and Le Mans would be just one more crown jewel to add to his repertoire. He has a win in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, and he’d love to collect a win in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Ford this year. Thankfully, the Ford Mustang GT3 loves tracks like Le Mans, so he feels like he’s got a decent shot at it.

“I will say that Le Mans, on paper and by design of the track, should really lean toward and benefit our Mustang,” he says. “The car likes high speed, long straights and big, fast corners – which Le Mans has plenty of. We may have our best race of the season at Le Mans. We’re going up against our biggest competition here, but I am cautiously optimistic that we can have our best result of the year here.”

We’ll have more on the Mustang GT3 soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Mustang news and non-stop Ford news coverage.