Gradient to Make Switch to Ford Mustang GT3 in 2025

Photo: Gradient Racing

Gradient Racing will make the switch from Acura to Ford Mustang GT3 machinery next year in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, having announced a “long-term” commitment to the GTD class.

The Texas-based squad, which has campaigned Acura NSX GT3s for the last six years in both IMSA and SRO America competition, will transition to the Multimatic-built GT3 contender that made its debut this year.

“We are incredibly excited to join the Ford Performance family with the new Mustang GT3 for the 2025 season and beyond,” said team owner Andris Laivins.

“Our good friends at Multimatic have done an incredible job with this car. It represents the pinnacle of GT3 engineering, and we can’t wait to put some serious miles on it and learn more.

“The factory team has done a massive job developing the new platform, and as a customer program we will benefit a lot from their experience.”

Gradient has become the second official customer team with the Mustang GT3, joining initial partner Proton Competition, which has campaigned the car in the WeatherTech Championship, FIA World Endurance Championship and Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS.

“”We are pleased to welcome Gradient Racing to the Ford Performance family, as they prepare their newly acquired Ford Mustang GT3 for an upcoming IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship program in 2025,” said Ford Performance global motorsports director Mark Rushbrook.

“We are excited to support them in this new chapter of their IMSA program.

“It is our continued mission to offer the beating heart of Mustang to customer teams worldwide — from Mustang Dark Horse R and Mustang GT4, to our ultimate expression of Mustang in our sports car racing line-up, Mustang GT3.”

Drivers for the program have not yet been announced.

The team is coming off its first GTD podium finish of the season in last weekend’s WeatherTech Championship race at Road America with Sheena Monk and Stevan McAleer.

Having already taken delivery of the car, Lavins said the team will embark on an extensive testing program in the coming months.

“We have a lot to learn,” he said. “As we dig into the technical side at the shop, we’re engaging with drivers and partners who will be a good fit as the program takes shape, and plan to offer testing opportunities very soon.”

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