Ward: Growth of Mustang GT4 Globally a “Remarkable Success”

Photo: Wes Duenkel/Ford

The growth of Ford Racing’s Mustang GT4 customer program globally has been deemed a “remarkable success” according to its global customer racing manager Chris Ward, who is now targeting a ramp up of entries in Europe, and eventually the Asian market.

Ward, who joined the ‘Blue Oval’ in January 2025 as its global one-make series manager, now oversees all of Ford Racing’s customer racing programs, which currently sees more than 80 cars, between the Dark Horse R, Mustang GT4 and Mustang GT3, racing globally.

But it’s been in the GT4 ranks where Ward is hopeful of seeing even more of the 5.0-liter naturally aspirated Coyote V8-powered Mustangs in action around the world in the coming years.

“The Mustang Dark Horse R, the GT4 and the GT3 were all born at the same time and launched in 2024, which was a massive undertaking by Ford Racing at that time,” Ward told Sportscar365.

“GT4 in the U.S. started with three cars and grew to five in the following season. The number is now 11 in North America.

“Australia started with two cars, last year was six, and this year is a record-setting 10. We’ve seen not only allegiance toward our American icon, Mustang, but also confidence in the platform globally and as ‘America’s Race Team.’

“It’s a remarkable success story.”

A total of 24 Mustang GT4s are currently active across North America, Australia and Europe, a marked increase from last year, although Ward expects that number to continue to grow.

He was most recently at the GT4 European Series season-opening weekend at Paul Ricard, where six Ford Racing Driver Development Team members — Nathan Vanspringel, Erik Evans, Jenson Altzman, Marco Signoretti, Michiel Haverans and Sam Paley — were all in action across Mustang GT4s fielded by Academy Motorsport and TeamFloral.

The series, and the entire European region for that matter, has three Mustang GT4s active.

“It’s the market that has the biggest potential for growth and was part of the reason why I made the trip,” said Ward. “It’s the market that’s next on the radar for growth.

“I had a lot of positive conversations at Paul Ricard regarding our GT4 programs, which is really encouraging.”

To better support the expected influx of new customer teams, Ford Racing is in the process of bringing in dedicated customer racing engineering staff, while also hiring regional customer racing managers for both Europe and Australia.

“The opportunity to bolster regional support for our global customer base shows the commitment of Ford Racing leadership to our customer racing programs globally,” said Ward.

“I’ve had customers approach me looking to run the GT4 Iberia series that operates in the winter, and customers showing interest in the Mustang for Italian GT4, which started up this year.

“It’s always the same goal for me: It’s about having a Ford Racing presence in the paddock.

“Our support trailer is now Ford Racing branded in Europe, and it was great for me to be able spend the time and meeting not only our current customers over there, but also prospective customers for future programs.”

While the Asian market is “very much” on the radar, Ward said there’s no definitive timeline for a ramp up in support on the continent, which he believes would likely use their existing resources in Australia as a “jumping off point” from a management standpoint.

Growth has also been seen in Ford Racing’s backyard, with the Mustang GT4 being the second-most popular model in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, and three teams — TechSport Racing, McCumbee McAleer Racing and LAP Motorsports, recently expanding into Pirelli GT4 America competition for the first time.

“When prospective customers – the teams and certainly drivers –get their hands on the Mustang GT4, they really enjoy the race car nature of it,” said Ward.

“Mustang GT4 transcends many other competitors in that it closely prepares customers for the next step and our ultimate racing expression – the Mustang GT3. The GT4 provides more ‘race car,’ which includes full motorsport ABS and traction control, a sequential gearbox with straight cut gears, DSSV dampers, and an advanced multi-function carbon fiber steering wheel.”

“The attributes of the Mustang GT4 help customer teams and drivers make a comfortable shift up our ‘Ford Racing Sports Car Racing Pyramid’ by promoting drivability.

“It’s a platform that drivers from a variety of skill levels can maximize, while gaining valuable experience for the next level.”

Ward: Strong Global GT4 Program Crucial for Growth of Development Team Drivers

With more Mustang GT4s in action globally, Ward said it’s created additional opportunities for its recently expanded roster of the Ford Racing Driver Development Team, particularly with some of the drivers making their debuts in new regions.

Americans Altzman and Paley, for instance, have raced in Monochrome GT4 Australia, while both drivers also made their GT4 European Series debut at Paul Ricard.

“It’s a great opportunity for them to be competing in arguably one of the most competitive GT4 series in the world,” said Ward.

“I was really pleased to see the post-race analysis and how well they stacked up against the field, with most of them never having driven Paul Ricard before.

“We offer our Driver Development Team mentorship, simulator time and opportunities to progress – that’s why we’ve injected the word ‘development’ into that program name. Each driver has embraced the opportunity and challenge, which is reassuring for the future of the sport.

“If we look at their career prospects, most notably GT3 is the next rung on the ladder, we consider where the most competitive GT3 championships are in the world.

“Many are in Europe. Offering these rising stars the opportunity to learn those European circuits in our GT4 platform ticks a big box for us. That’s hugely important.

“It’s about the racecraft, competing against other hugely competitive up-and-coming Silver drivers for us to be able to rank them globally is really important, but also that practical element of learning the tracks where hopefully be racing in the World Endurance Championship, in GT World Challenge, European Le Mans Series.

“All three of those are hugely competitive series would be destinations for our Driver Development Team in the future.”

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