The advent of the seventh-generation Ford Mustang opened a new chapter for the pony car both on and off the racetrack. Notably, the surprise addition of the Ford Mustang Dark Horse spearheaded a new motorsports push for The Blue Oval in sportscar racing and other disciplines. Now, one year in, that project is already proving successful as racers are adopting and sticking with the Mustang on the track.
The purpose of the Ford Mustang Dark Horse motorsports project is to provide a successful pipeline for its competitors. According to a report from Racer, the Mustang program ensures that participants can stay in The Blue Oval’s stable as they claw their way through the ranks. This system can take drivers all the way to GT3 competition, one of the most prestigious FIA-sanctioned divisions in sportscar racing, which requires that all entries be based on a production model like the Mustang.
The Blue Oval’s ability to offer a single platform Ford Mustang Dark Horse based racer makes it unique among its competition. All chassis are produced at the Flat Rock Assembly plant in Michigan, which is also responsible for production of the roadgoing Mustang, keeping everything close in-house.
Interest in the Ford Mustang Dark Horse race cars has been strong enough to prompt the creation of the IMSA sanctioned Mustang Challenge, which is entirely made up of Dark Horse R race cars. In fact, 55 examples of the track-ready racer have been built by Ford with more on the way.
To make the Mustang Dark Horse R even more competitive on track, Ford implemented improvements ahead of the 2025 racing season, improving its performance, reliability, and serviceability. It will see plenty of track time throughout 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.
Comments
An affordable quasi-entry level race series is/was a great idea. Other brands have had success with this approach, so it’s a fairly safe bet that the Mustang Challenge Series would also be.
And Farley is the only one that cares, except maybe Bill.