The Ford Mustang 2024 has officially been revealed, offering new versions of the turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four and the naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 to keep up with the bold new styling and technologically advanced interior. But the seventh-generation pony car won’t just focus on road performance, and Blue Oval has announced that the Mustang will be racing – at Le Mans.
Addressing the crowd at the official debut of the 2024 Mustang, Chief Executive Bill Ford announced that the company would return to the famous 24-hour endurance race, following in the footsteps of legends such as the 1966 GT40 1-2-3–finishing. The new Mustang will race in the new GT3 class for 2024, which will replace the current Le Mans GTE car field.
“The Mustang GT3 will qualify by 2024,” said Mark Rushbrook, Ford Performance Motorsports Global Director. “We’re looking forward to seeing the Mustang race there.”
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Regarding the powertrain and mechanical changes that Ford will make to the new Mustang to prepare it to compete on the global stage, Mom said. The automaker is likely to reveal more specs in the next few months. The 2024 Mustang will also spawn GT3 and GT4 variants for the IMSA, as well as the Australian Supercars Championship competitor and the track-only variant of the sleek Dark Horse.
Reportedly, the 2024 Mustang is not the first Blue Oval pony to race at Le Mans. Ford fielded one in 1967, then another 30 years later. Since then, Ford has relied on the GT supercar, famously clinching class wins in 2016, 50 years after the original GT40 won the overall race.
