Ford to bring Mustang back to Le Mans under company rebranding
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Ford has planned a return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with its iconic Mustang muscle car next year under a massive rebranding of Ford Performance aimed at bringing the automotive manufacturer "into the racing business."
Ford has planned a return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with its iconic Mustang muscle car next year under a massive rebranding of Ford Performance aimed at bringing the automotive manufacturer "into the racing business."
The Friday unveiling of the new Mustang Dark Horse-based race car follows Ford's announcement in February that it will return to Formula One in 2026 in partnership with reigning world champion Red Bull.
The Mustang will enter the GT3 category next year with at least two cars in both IMSA and the World Endurance Championship, and is hopeful to earn an invitation to next year's 24 Hours of Le Mans. The IMSA entries will be a factory Ford Performance program run by Multimatic, and a customer program in WEC with Proton Competition.
Ford CEO Jim Farley told The Associated Press the Mustang will be available to compete in various GT3 series across the globe to customer teams. But more important, Farley said, is the overall rebranding of Ford Performance -- done by renowned motorsports designer Troy Lee -- that is aimed at making Ford a lifestyle brand with a sporting mindset.
"It's kind of like the company finding its own, and rediscovering its icons, and doubling down on them," Farley told the AP. "And then this motorsports activity is getting serious about connecting enthusiast customers with those rediscovered icons. It's a big switch for the company -- this is really about building strong, iconic vehicles with enthusiasts at the center of our marketing."
Ford last competed in sports car racing in 2019 as part of a three-year program with Chip Ganassi Racing. The team scored the class win at Le Mans in 2016 in a targeted performance aimed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ford snapping Ferrari's six-year winning streak.
Ford on Friday displayed a Mustang with a Lee-designed livery that showcased the cleaner, simplified look that will soon be featured on all its racing vehicles. The traditional blue oval with Ford Performance in white lettering underneath will now be branded simply FP.
