Some days ago, the automotive industry had its eyes fixed on Detroit where the 2022 Ford Mustang saw its replacement, and it is set to hit the market in 2024, for the first time.
With styling cues such as the front bumper assembly and headlights very much resembling the brand's newest NASCAR challenger is looking to win its first title in this year's playoffs, the new car certainly looks good. Towards the rear, it has a more intricate wing than on the current Mustang and angular taillights add to the model's overall aggression.
Although large screens dominate the interior, several other features hint at this new model's throwback ethos such as the manual six-speed transmission shifter poking out from the floor and, obviously, the option of a V8 weighing down the front end of the car. Despite the modern, eco-friendly age we live in, muscle cars remain just that.
Along with the reveal of the seventh-generation pony car, the Blue Oval also revealed a group of track-only iterations of the car set to compete in various Motorsport championships around the world. Among the group of cars were track-only customer cars, the Dark Horse R and S, as well as the Factory X Racing, an NHRA drag racer. However, the major highlight of the presentation must be the GT3 car set to bring the Blue Oval back to Le Mans, and its little sibling, the GT4 and the Australian Supercars model, that will later replace the current stock car in the NASCAR Cup Series in modified form.
2024 Ford Mustang GT3: The Blue Oval Returns To Le Mans
After Ford told the world about its plans to enter the GT3 class at Le Mans in 2024 with a Mustang, the endurance racing community got very excited. It meant the end of a 27-year absence of the model at La Sarthe with the brand itself not competing in the race since 2019 with the Ford GTE. Plans for the class and Ford's subsequent participation came out over a year ago, but finally, we get to see what the car will look like.
Based off the seventh generation Mustang, the GT3 iteration follows the swan neck rear wing trend set by Porsche with its latest GT racer. In fact, the wing has to be the defining feature of the car, sprawling out from its mounting points on the C-pillars towards the rear of the trunk lid.
The GT3 Mustang will compete at Le Mans from 2024, though it will also take part in customer GT racing around the world with entries almost certain in the GT World Challenge and other such series.
Aussie Supercars: Ford Joins Chevy With Its Racing Mustang
With its Gen3 cars set to enter competition next season, the Australian Supercars championship was, until now, restricted to just one model, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. However, after the Blue Oval's announcement, the Ford Mustang will now go up against its fierce rival down under on infamous tracks like Bathurst and Phillip Island.
Compared to the Mustang's GT3 variant, the Gen3 Supercar looks much bulkier with the Australian racecars much more resembling touring cars based on their road counterparts rather than GTs aiming to look like road production models. A smaller wing and near lack of a diffuser also push the more road-relevant look.
Under the skin, the Mustang Supercar will use the same engine as the GT3 car, the 5.4-liter, or 329ci Coyote power plant. This is a significant hike in capacity from the Gen2 Mustang's engine. The change aims to improve reliability.
The Supercars championship isn't the first time the Mustang and Camaro will go head-to-head in motorsport competition. The two have been fighting for NASCAR Cup Series championships for many years now with the battle fiercer than ever in the Next Gen Cup car era.
However, this will be the first time the Camaro has gone up against the Mustang in the Australian series with GM previously running cars baring Holden badges. Perhaps with greater relevance to the U.S. car market, races such as the Bathurst 1000 will become more popular with American motorsport fans.
2024 Mustang GT4, Ford's Motorsport Ladder
Just like with the GT3 Mustang, Multimatic joined up with Ford to create the GT4 variant of racing Mustang, a car with less power and overall grip that will run in lower series. The GT4 class is very much a feeder category for the more prominent GT3 cars allowing younger drivers to prove themselves in less daunting cars than the high downforce of a modern GT3.
That isn't to say the GT4 Mustang will be slow. The current GT4 Ford Mustang is already a weapon on the straights and with a similar engine as the GT3 car, the new iteration will surely be no different. Ford says the car will be available to race in SRO and IMSA championships like European GT4 and the IMSA Michelin Pilot series from next year, though we don't expect to see full-time competition from the new model until 2024.