Ford’s Motorsports Stampede Continues With the Mustang GT4

We’re on the cusp of a brand new Ford Mustang technology, and meaning we are able to anticipate to see some very thrilling pony vehicles within the close to future. Ford’s not losing any little bit of that point, having already primed a brand new batch of race vehicles able to dash out of the gate. 

This week, Ford debuted the Mustang GT4 on the 24 Hours of Spa, an endurance race that takes place on certainly one of motorsport’s oldest and beloved tracks. 

The GT4 relies off of the 2024 Mustang Darkish Horse, the meanest model of the muscle automobile within the upcoming lineup, which homes a 5.0-liter V8 below the hood that’s able to producing 500 horsepower. Together with the additional energy over the usual Mustang GT, which gins up round 480 horsepower, the Darkish Horse has extra race-ready parts and beefier brakes. 

Primarily based on the Mustangs which have come earlier than it just like the Boss 302 and Shelby GT350, the Darkish Horse is prone to be the darling of weekend observe days when prospects lastly get behind the wheel. In relation to the GT4, a lot of the civilian-friendly components make means for gear that may stand as much as the challenges of a 24 hour endurance race. 

Beginning with the identical 5.0-liter V8, the Mustang GT4 swaps out its normal 6-speed guide transmission for a dog-ring gearbox by racing element producer Holinger. This unit shifts sooner in a race setting however lacks the convenience of use and resistance to put on {that a} widespread synchromesh field gives. To take advantage of out of it, the Mustang is fitted with pneumatically actuated paddle shifters for fast and punchy gear modifications. 

Multimatic dampers are fitted onto the suspension whereas the shell is wrapped in pure fiber physique panels paired with an aero package deal distinctive to the Mustang whereas nonetheless conforming to GT4 class requirements. 

The GT4 Mustang announcement follows the latest reveal of the Mustang GT3 at this yr’s 20 Hours of Le Mans. Whereas the GT4 is extra of a stripped-down model of the Darkish Horse, the GT3 is rather more faraway from any road-going mannequin. This racer will get its personal distinctive model of the V8, expanded to five.4 liters over the usual 5.0, one thing that may make its means right into a future Mustang if we’re fortunate. It additionally will get a rear-mounted transaxle gearbox and a carbon fiber physique with a really aggressive aerodynamic configuration. 

“The Mustang GT4 is a key member of our motorsports lineup,” says Mark Rushbrook, World Director, Ford Efficiency Motorsports. “Its placement between the Mustang GT3 and soon-to-be-unveiled Mustang Darkish Horse R retains the model in competitors in any respect ranges of on-track efficiency and is a vital a part of our buyer racing program.”

Ford isn’t fielding the Mustang GT4 itself, however buyer groups should buy them in time for subsequent yr’s season at an undisclosed worth. Both means, it’s an thrilling time to be a Ford Mustang fan, with so many ponies stampeding throughout a number of motorsport disciplines subsequent yr.