Daytona to Open 2027 Mustang Challenge Season

Photo: Wes Duenkel/Ford

Daytona International Speedway will kick off the 2027 Mustang Challenge North America season, with both the iconic Florida venue and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta added to the IMSA-sanctioned single-make series.

Announced on Friday, the series will again feature 12 races held over six weekends, although beginning in January at the ‘World’s Center of Racing’ for Rounds 1 and 2 during the Roar Before the Rolex 24 weekend.

It will be followed by its now-traditional trip to Sebring International Raceway, in support of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, in mid-March, before a trip to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, also supporting the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

The series will then take an early summer break for the Mustang Challenge Spa Invitational, which has resulted in the 2026 events at Mid-Ohio and Watkins Glen International not being on the calendar.

Mustang Challenge North America will reconvene on U.S. soil in August at Virginia International Raceway, followed by a third consecutive outing at the FIA World Endurance Championship Lone Star Le Mans event at Circuit of The Americas before closing out the season supporting Motul Petit Le Mans.

The 2027 season will mark Mustang Challenge’s fourth season of competition, in what Ford Racing’s global customer racing manager Chris Ward believes is its “best schedule yet.”

“Three years ago, Ford Racing announced a brand-new single make series,” he said.

“When Mustang Challenge debuted, it was an opportunity for Mustang enthusiasts to get behind the wheel of a track-ready Dark Horse R, a car that bridges the gap between a production Dark Horse and a Mustang GT4 race car.

“Three years later, Ford Racing’s one-make program has grown into something bigger than we ever could have imagined.

“With three series across two continents, Mustang one-make racing has become an integral part of our sports car racing efforts.

“And, as a result of its role, where we race is incredibly important.

“In 2027, each of our three Mustang one-make series will visit some of the world’s most iconic tracks. Next year’s Mustang Cup Australia schedule was released earlier this summer and today we are excited to announce our 2027 calendar for the series that started it all: Mustang Challenge North America.

“A season full of premier venues and headline events is part of the promise of Mustang one-make racing, and I believe we are delivering on that promise with our 2027 Mustang Challenge North America calendar.

“We are looking forward to offering our competitors, partners and fans another remarkable season of global Mustang competition.”

2027 Mustang Challenge North America Schedule:
Jan. 22-24 — Daytona International Speedway (Roar)
March 17-20 — Sebring International Raceway
April 30-May 2 — WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Aug. 20-22 — Virginia International Raceway
Sept. 10-12 — Circuit of The Americas (WEC)
Oct. 6-8 — Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta

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