Seventh-Generation Ford Mustang Is Track Ready
Last Wednesday, Ford Motor Company revealed the 2024 Mustang, along with special new models and the announcement that the Ford Mustang, fresh off its seventh generation unveiling, will soon return to Le Mans. In fact, Ford dropped the news that there will be several race Mustangs, including one for Factory X, which is a new NHRA production-style drag racing class. Ford did not say whether it will build cars or simply support the category.
While currently in the experimental stage, Factory X could become a top category with fans and racers. The class would be the natural evolution from Holley EFI Factory Super Cars, as run in NMCA or Factory Showdown on the NHRA side. The cars will have similar supercharged OE-style engines backed by a 5-speed manual transmission and a larger rear tire for improved traction. Factory X cars are also slated to be much lighter than the traditional Showdown cars and we anticipate times in the 6-second range at over 190 mph.
Of course, the big news for Ford was the return to Le Mans, as this is one of the most historical races in the world. “Mustang is raced at all the great tracks around the world, but there is no race or track that means more to our history than Le Mans,” said Bill Ford, executive chair, at The Stampede, the debut of the all-new seventh-generation Ford Mustang. “It's where we took on Ferrari and won in the 1960s and where we returned 50 years later and shocked the world again. Mustang will go back to Le Mans. Once again, we will Go Like Hell,” he said with great enthusiasm.
Ford famously took the Ford GT 40 to Le Mans 24 Hours beginning in 1964 and triumphed in 1966, sweeping the podium with a 1-2-3 finish. Then, 50 years later, to the day, Ford did it again—winning the Le Mans 24 Hours with Ford Chip Ganassi Racing and the Ford GT, with another Ford GT finishing third. Mustang previously raced at Le Mans in 1967 and 1997. “The Mustang GT3 will be eligible in 2024,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “We look forward to seeing Mustang race there.”
Last Wednesday, Ford Motor Company revealed the 2024 Mustang, along with special new models and the announcement that the Ford Mustang, fresh off its seventh generation unveiling, will soon return to Le Mans. In fact, Ford dropped the news that there will be several race Mustangs, including one for Factory X, which is a new NHRA production-style drag racing class. Ford did not say whether it will build cars or simply support the category.
While currently in the experimental stage, Factory X could become a top category with fans and racers. The class would be the natural evolution from Holley EFI Factory Super Cars, as run in NMCA or Factory Showdown on the NHRA side. The cars will have similar supercharged OE-style engines backed by a 5-speed manual transmission and a larger rear tire for improved traction. Factory X cars are also slated to be much lighter than the traditional Showdown cars and we anticipate times in the 6-second range at over 190 mph.
Of course, the big news for Ford was the return to Le Mans, as this is one of the most historical races in the world. “Mustang is raced at all the great tracks around the world, but there is no race or track that means more to our history than Le Mans,” said Bill Ford, executive chair, at The Stampede, the debut of the all-new seventh-generation Ford Mustang. “It's where we took on Ferrari and won in the 1960s and where we returned 50 years later and shocked the world again. Mustang will go back to Le Mans. Once again, we will Go Like Hell,” he said with great enthusiasm.
Ford famously took the Ford GT 40 to Le Mans 24 Hours beginning in 1964 and triumphed in 1966, sweeping the podium with a 1-2-3 finish. Then, 50 years later, to the day, Ford did it again—winning the Le Mans 24 Hours with Ford Chip Ganassi Racing and the Ford GT, with another Ford GT finishing third. Mustang previously raced at Le Mans in 1967 and 1997. “The Mustang GT3 will be eligible in 2024,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “We look forward to seeing Mustang race there.”