Sixty years after Ford introduced the powerful Mustang to the world, the seventh-generation Mustang is set to tackle the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race this month.
Racing is deeply embedded in the Mustang’s DNA, with its competitive debut during the 1964 Tour de France de Automobile, just five months after its launch. Since then, Ford’s iconic car has competed in NASCAR, NHRA, IMSA, Australian Supercars, and Formula Drift.
“The Ford Mustang has raced on circuits across the globe for decades, and now it’s time to bring our iconic coupe to the world’s most important race,” said Jim Farley, CEO of Ford Motor Company. “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 for what promises to be one of the most thrilling races of the modern era.”
While the Mustang has raced at Le Mans before – with entries in 1967 and 1997 – 2024 marks its first dedicated campaign in the World Endurance Championship circuit. Longtime partners Multimatic Motorsports and M-Sport are involved in the Mustang’s production, with the racing effort managed by the successful Germany-based team, Proton Competition. Ford’s notable history at Le Mans includes the legendary Ford GT40, which defeated top European competitors for four consecutive years in the late 1960s. In 2016, a revived Ford GT claimed victory in the LMGTE Pro category, fifty years after the original GT40’s first win.
The sold-out 92nd edition of Le Mans – the fourth race of the FIA World Endurance Championship season – will take place on June 15-16 at Circuit de la Sarthe in France. Proton Competition will field three Mustang GT3 cars among nearly two dozen LMGT3 entrants.
Proton Competition will retain its regular FIA World Endurance Cup LMGT3 class driver line-up for two of its Mustang GT3s: The No. 77 will be driven by Ryan Hardwick, Ben Barker, and Zacharie Robichon, while the No. 88 will feature Giorgio Roda, Dennis Olsen, and Mikkel O. Pedersen. The No. 44, announced last month, will be piloted by Christopher Mies, John Hartshorne, and Ben Tuck.
Off the track, the Mustang GTD1 – a road-going version of the Mustang GT3 – will make its European debut and will be showcased at Maison de Mustang inside Manufacturer Village. This fan zone will include driver autograph sessions, merchandise, and a racing simulator competition for a chance to win Mustang prizes.
Up to 1,000 fans can participate in the Paul Swift Precision Driving experience as passengers in nearby Arnage, with bookings available upon arrival at the track.
“While the Mustang GT3 is the pinnacle of our sports car racing globally, it’s just one part of a broader Mustang racing strategy that includes the recent Mustang Challenge Series, GT4, and much more,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Performance Motorsports. “We race to win and to build our Ford Performance community, and we hope fans at Le Mans enjoy the off-track experiences as much as the race itself. This is an exciting time to be a Mustang fan.
