The all-new seventh-generation Ford Mustang Dark Horse broke onto the muscle car scene as a surprise entry, kicking off a string of high-performance pony cars offered up by The Blue Oval. That includes the Ford Mustang Dark Horse R, which debuted in 2023 as a track-ready, non-street-legal variant of the Dark Horse without going full race car like the Mustang GT3 and GT4. For the 2025 model year, Ford has issued a handful of notable updates for the Dark Horse R, derived from critical feedback after turning the pony car loose on track.
Robert Noaker, the inaugural member of the Ford Performance Junior Team, turned some laps in the Ford Mustang Dark Horse R in a test session ahead of the 2025 racing season. In a video posted on social media, Noaker said that he’s spent the off-season rallying the Ford Mustang Dark Horse R on track. He gave feedback to The Blue Oval, prompting the automaker to make key improvements to the Mustang Dark Horse R to improve its performance, reliability, and serviceability.
The Ford Mustang Dark Horse R is the vehicle of choice for the 2025 Mustang Challenge, which entices competitors to take the high-performance machine for a spin with the promise of a cash prize or a sizable amount toward a seat in a Mustang GT3 or GT4. Racers will compete across six rounds in 12 races this season.
Additionally, the 2025 Mustang Challenge Le Mans Invitational is also on deck for the Mustang Dark Horse R. Taking place at Circuit de la Sarthe, the Mustang Challenge Le Mans Invitational is an optional round in the 2025 IMSA Mustang Challenge schedule, and all competitors in that series and qualified owners of the Mustang Dark Horse R will be invited to participate.
As a reminder, the Ford Mustang Dark Horse R makes use of the naturally aspirated 5.0L Coyote V8 engine, good for 500 horsepower and 418 pound-feet of torque. That engine 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.
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