Proton Competition, which fields the Ford Mustang GT3, has had a trying 2025 season in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). The pony car has only finished on the podium once back in May at Spa-Francorchamps. While the Mustang GT3 finished seventh overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Proton followed it up with a DNF for both entries at the most recent FIA WEC race, but driver Ben Barker is keeping his chin up through it all.
Barker spoke with Sportscar365 on the matter. Barker’s No. 77 Ford Mustang GT3 suffered an exhaust issue at the 6 Hours of São Paulo, but he remains optimistic. In fact, Proton has made gains with the Mustang GT3 behind the scenes, even if their on-track results don’t show it.
“Of course, we’ve got these little niggling issues, which are obviously delaying us getting results sometimes,” Barker told Sportscar365. “But, actually, the overall performance of the car has improved massively. And these things will get solved, 100 percent.”
He added, “The pace is looking better and the results will come. We’ve had results this year… Let’s wait for the rest of the season. We’re only halfway through and hopefully we get on the podium a few times.”
Barker said he’s keeping his eyes forward and is looking forward to the forthcoming race at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Texas, back on the Ford Mustang GT3’s home turf. Barker and the No. 77 Mustang GT3 team brought home a sixth-place result at the running of the event last year, notching the pony car’s best result during its inaugural season outside of its podium at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“COTA [is a] home race,” Barker said. “I think we showed fairly strong there last year so hopefully we can continue that and try and aim for a podium.”
It’s not that the Ford Mustang GT3 doesn’t have the pace. In fact, the pony car galloped to victory at Virginia International Raceway recently despite suffering from challenging power steering issues.
Comment
Racing is the best testing ground. You can test and test and test, but until one experiences the heat of race after race, those hidden little gremlins don’t usually manifest themselves. Patience and perseverance are the best prescription here. More results will come.