Michelin IMSA Insider: Ford Racing at 125, From GT to LMDh

Mention the Mustang Dark Horse SC Track Pack, and Alex Allmandinger lights up.

Ford Racing’s Global Sports Car Motorsports Manager has good reason. Riding on bespoke Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires, the street-legal Mustang is Ford’s race-to-road, road-to-race philosophy made tangible.

“It really was co-developed with these programs and with motorsport in mind,” said Allmandinger.

“To be successful in racing, you need to get every detail and have everything analyzed and understood to the highest degree.

“[It] really helps us to understand the tire and what it demands on track here at IMSA with our GT3 and GT4 cars and that prepares us to make what is a really good road car.”

As Ford Racing celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2026, race-to-road, road-to-race philosophy remains central to the company’s modern sports car programs.

Michelin has played a key role in that evolution, helping Ford translate lessons between competition and production vehicles.

Ford GT at Le Mans

One of the partnership’s defining chapters came in 2016, when Ford returned to the 24 Hours of Le Mans exactly 50 years after its historic first overall victory with one clear objective: win.

“We, from the beginning of that program had a very clear target,” Allmandinger recalled. “It was to go out and win Le Mans.

“To do that involves needing the best of everything. An important part of that is having the right tire partner.”

The collaboration extended beyond the race car. Michelin developed a bespoke tire for the production Ford GT, allowing the engineering process to flow in both directions.

“The engineering and development that went into the road car tire, an equal amount of time and experience went into the motorsport tire as well,” Allmandinger said.

“Everything from simulation to modeling to really find all the success we had in that program.”

Climbing the Ladder

That same collaborative approach can be found throughout Ford’s racing ladder in IMSA. Today, Mustang Challenge North America, Mustang GT4 and Mustang GT3 all compete on Michelin tires.

“Being able to move through the ranks and have familiar and comfortable equipment around you, it’s really important,” said Allmandinger.

Current Michelin Pilot Challenge GS driver Robert Noaker is one example.

After winning two Mustang Challenge titles, Noaker moved into GT4 competition with McCumbee McAleer Racing this season.

Building the Next Chapter

In 2027, the Blue Oval will return to the top class at Le Mans. While the program represents a new chapter, the foundation has already been established through years of collaboration with Michelin across GT racing.

“Everything we’ve built really from the GT program onwards with Michelin is all directly building into that success with the Ford Hypercar,” Allmandinger said.

“We’ve been testing on the simulator for a long time now prepping for this and none of that would be possible without the framework that we’ve built with Michelin.”