Ford’s Barker Aiming to “Fight” for Podium in IMSA Cameo

Photo: Javier Jimenez/DPPI

Ben Barker said he’s hoping to help “fight” for a podium finish in a one-off outing in Proton Competition’s Ford Mustang GT3 in this weekend’s Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The Ford Performance factory driver has been drafted into Proton’s No. 55 Mustang GT3 as a sub for his FIA World Endurance Championship co-driver Ryan Hardwick, who was unable to make the six-hour Michelin Endurance Cup enduro due to clashing commitments.

“Ryan couldn’t make it and GTD being the way it is, a Gold is allowed to jump in with the two Silvers,” Barker told Sportscar365. “He said, ‘Look, can Ben do it?’ I got the all clear and I’m here.”

Barker, who is making his racing debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is not a complete stranger to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, having contested a partial season in GTD in 2014 in a GB Autosport-entered Porsche 911 GT America.

The WEC veteran is fresh off last weekend’s 6 Hours of Fuji in Proton’s No. 77 Mustang GT3 with Hardwick and Zach Robichon.

“Obviously we run a different tire so that’s a substantial change,” Barker said of the differences between the two series. “But I think the Michelin is running really well with the Mustang from what I’ve heard.

“Of course there’s bits you can take from other series. Obviously it’s the same car so as far as platform is concerned, we’re working with the same thing.

“It’s going to be exciting to try and fine-tune it and get it up to speed.

“The boys have been doing a very good job over the season. They’ve shown quite decent pace. I’m just going to jump in and do my job and hopefully help the guys get a good result.”

Barker said he’s seen gains in the Multimatic-built car over the course of the year.

“It’s been good,” he said. “We’re learning the trends of the car and then you can start reacting to what changes you need to make.

“Whereas when you’re so early in the program, you don’t know the trends.

“Now we have a pretty firm understanding on what changes change what to balance.

“That’s where we’re starting to fine-tune it now. The pace has increased, particularly in WEC.

“We started the season off really struggling for mid-corner grip. You obviously have the torque control so you don’t get any benefit on the straight.

“We went to Le Mans and that was a good step forward. We went to Brazil and we were a bit more on the pace and COTA was pretty strong and of course Fuji we were strong on pace as well.

“We’re getting closer. W’e’re in a pretty good spot as far as balance is concerned.”

As for his chances this weekend, sharing Proton’s U.S.-based Mustang GT3 with Corey Lewis and Giammarco Levorato, Barker said he has set his sights on helping give the team its first GTD podium finish.

Lewis and Levorato’s best finish of the year has been a fifth place class result at Long Beach in April.

“They’ve had some really good results, with pole in the last round and strong pace and being very close to a podium,” said Barker.

“There’s been a little bit of a BoP change but hopefully it won’t affect us too much and we can fight.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John