Following the debut of the all-new S650 generation 2024 Ford Mustang, The Blue Oval unleashed a bevy of racers based on the new pony car – a list that included the Ford Mustang GT3 back in July 2023. At that time, FoMoCo noted that the Ford Mustang GT3 was set to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and various other stops on the FIA GT3 circuit, and it immediately faced strong demand that prompted the automaker to ramp up production. The Ford Mustang GT3 has since found its footing in IMSA and seems poised to face even more demand for the upcoming 2025 season – where it will also expand its docket.
As part of a new collaboration with the privateer Haupt Racing Team (HRT), the Ford Mustang GT3 will now compete in several new top-tier European series for the 2025 season, including the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) and ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie (NLS) including the ADAC RAVENOL 24H Nürburgring races under the “HRT Ford Performance” banner. The partnership will result in the pony car racer making appearances at iconic events such as the ADAC RAVENOL the 24 hours Nürburgring, as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans yet again, the Crowdstrike 24 Hours of Spa, and the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
Neither HRT nor Ford are new to these events, however. HRT previously claimed the 2021 DTM Drivers’ Championship and a 2023 GT World Challenge Europe title, while Ford’s own racing history in DTM dates back to the 1980’s with legendary cars such as the Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth, along with five victories at the Nürburgring 24 Hours in vehicles such as the Escort, Capri, and Sierra RS500.
“Having a team like HRT join the Ford Performance global family is a significant moment for us,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “Haupt Racing Team’s proven success in DTM and other race series is a strong endorsement of the Mustang GT3, and we’re thrilled to see them take on the legendary ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring 24 Hours as well as many of the other iconic circuits of Europe. This also means that along with our partners at Multimatic and Proton Competition, the Ford Mustang GT3 will now be competing at most of the iconic, 24-hour races at circuits such as Le Mans, Daytona, and Spa. This collaboration strengthens our global position in GT3 racing and opens up new series and audiences for us around the world as we continue to grow the Mustang racing program in 2025.”
Comment
This is as it should be. It’s a world market, so brands should be competing on the world stage. Particularly if they want to increase their brands credibility.