The IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge is a one-make racing series that takes place in North America featuring Ford Mustang Dark Horse R race cars. The series is sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association.
| Category | One-make racing by Ford |
|---|---|
| Country | North America |
| Inaugural season | 2024 |
| Constructors | Ford |
| Tyre suppliers | Michelin |
| Official website | Mustang Challenge |
 Current season | |
History
editThe unveiling of the seventh-generation Ford Mustang brought with it a slew of special editions and motorsport activations, including the introduction of the Dark Horse R track edition in July 2023.[1] The car resembles the track day-focused Dark Horse S, but features unique wheels and a racing fuel cell on top of the FIA roll cage, tow hooks, upgraded brakes, rear wing, and re-designed exhaust system featured on the Dark Horse S.[2] The Dark Horse R additionally features a six-speed manual gearbox and an anti-lock braking system, with a base price of approximately $150,000.[3]
Alongside the car's announcement came the launch of a new spec racing series, dubbed the Mustang Challenge, which was initially set to support six IMSA race weekends in 2024. The series would be managed by the Ford Performance Racing School and officially sanctioned by IMSA.[4] Entries would additionally race on bespoke Michelin tires, and top finishers would receive contingency payouts at each race event as well as at the conclusion of the season.[5] The champion, for instance, received a cash prize of $40,000 or a $100,000 scholarship towards a seat in a Ford Mustang GT3 or GT4 entry.[6] This allowed the series to operate as the first step of an internal ladder for Ford Performance's GT-racing efforts, in which drivers could begin competing in Mustang Challenge races before progressing to a GT3 seat through exceptional performance.[7]
The 2024 calendar was officially announced in October 2023, featuring five race weekends totaling ten race events. The season began at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in June, before visiting Watkins Glen International and Road America in support of the IMSA SportsCar Championship later in the summer. The Mustang Challenge then joined the FIA World Endurance Championship at Circuit of the Americas and the Intercontinental GT Challenge at Indianapolis to conclude its inaugural season.[6] The class structure was also finalized, featuring an at-large Dark Horse class alongside an optional Dark Horse Legends class for Bronze-rated drivers over the age of 45.[8] The series' inaugural event at Mid-Ohio welcomed 26 entries, including Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley, who piloted the #17 entry for MDK Motorsports.[9] Tyler Maxson scored the series' first ever pole position,[10] while Robert Noaker won the series' inaugural race.[11]
Following the series' inaugural round, an invitational round supporting the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans was announced.[12]
Circuits
edit
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (2024)
Watkins Glen International (2024)
Road America (2024)
Circuit of the Americas (2024)
Indianapolis Motor Speedway (2024)
Sebring International Raceway (2025)
Laguna Seca (2025)
Virginia International Raceway (2025)
Charlotte Motor Speedway (2025)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Gauthier, Michael (July 27, 2023). "Whoa, Nellie! Ford Mustang Dark Horse R Introduced For One-Make Racing Series". Carscoops. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ Padeanu, Adrian (July 7, 2023). "Ford Mustang Dark Horse R Teased On New Social Media Platform Threads". Motor1.com. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ Webster, Larry (June 18, 2024). "We Go Wheel-to-Wheel in Ford's New Mustang Challenge Series". Hagerty. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ "IMSA-Sanctioned Mustang Challenge Ready to Launch in 2024". IMSA. July 27, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ Dagys, John (July 27, 2023). "Ford Launches Mustang Single-Make Series for Dark Horse R". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ a b "Ford Performance Announces Mustang Challenge Race Schedule, Details Format & Prize Structure". IMSA. October 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ Grace, Jonathan (June 7, 2024). "Long: Mustang Challenge a "Natural Ladder" for Ford". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ Dagys, John (October 26, 2023). "Indianapolis to Close Out Mustang Challenge Season". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
The field... will be split into two classes – Dark Horse and Dark Horse Legends... an optional classification eligible to bronze-level drivers 45 years old and over.
- ^ Dagys, John (June 5, 2024). "Mustang Challenge Set for Series Kickoff at Mid-Ohio". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ Grace, Jonathan (June 8, 2024). "Maxson Charges to First Series Pole at Mid-Ohio". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ "Noaker Takes Historic Victory in First Race for Mustang Challenge". IMSA. June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ "Dark Horse R drivers to take on the ultimate race at the 2025 Mustang Challenge Le Mans Invitational". Ford Performance. June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.