Mustang GT3 Continues Legacy of Ford Racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Six decades after its debut, Ford is once again taking on the ultimate endurance racing challenge at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

The spirit of racing runs deep in the Mustang. It burst onto the competitive scene in 1964 during the Tour de France de Automobile, a mere five months after Ford unveiled the car to the world. From then on, Ford's global race car has tackled NASCAR, NHRA, IMSA, Australian Supercars, and Formula Drift with gusto.

“The Ford Mustang has raced in circuits across the world for decades, and now is the time for us to race our iconic coupe at the most important race in the world,” said Jim Farley, Ford Motor Company CEO. “Ford has a rich history at Le Mans dating back to the first race in 1923 and we are excited to return to the global stage in what promises to be one of the most exciting races of the modern era.”

Despite having participated in Le Mans in 1967 and 1997, 2024 will mark the first time Mustang will race with a specific goal in the World Endurance Championship circuit. The production of Mustang is a joint effort between Multimatic Motorsports and M-Sport, with the team being managed by the successful Proton Competition based in Germany.

Ford's legacy at Le Mans is highlighted by the dominance of the Ford GT40 in the late 1960s, when it defeated European rivals for four consecutive years. In 2016, the modern Ford GT made a triumphant return, winning the LMGTE Pro category 50 years after the GT40's initial victory.

The 92nd edition of Le Mans will be held on June 15-16 at Circuit de la Sarthe in France, with Proton Competition entering three Mustang GT3 cars among nearly two dozen LMGT3 Le Mans participants.

Proton Competition will maintain its regular-season driver line-up for the FIA World Endurance Cup LMGT3 class. The No. 77 will be co-piloted by Ryan Hardwick, Ben Baker, and Zacharie Robichon, while the No. 88 will see Giorgio Roda, Dennis Olsen, and Mikkel O. Pedersen behind the wheel. Meanwhile, the No. 44 will be shared by Christopher Mies, John Hartshorne, and Ben Tuck.

Fans can also enjoy the European debut of the Mustang GTD at Maison de Mustang in the Manufacturer Village, featuring exciting activities like driver autograph sessions and a racing simulator competition.

“While Mustang GT3 is the pinnacle of our sports car racing around the world, it is only one part of a far broader strategy around Mustang racing that includes our recent Mustang Challenge Series as well as GT4 and much more besides,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “We race to win and also to build our Ford Performance community, and our hope is that fans at Le Mans get as much excitement from the off-track experiences as they get from attending the race itself. This is an exciting time to be a fan of Mustang.”