Mustang Challenge to Race at Le Mans Next Year

Photo: Wes Duenkel/Ford

The new-for-2024 Mustang Challenge will head overseas next year, with Ford Performance and the ACO confirming Friday an invitational round at Circuit de la Sarthe during the 24 Hours of Le Mans weekend.

The event, open to all Mustang Challenge competitors in North America as well as owners of the Dark Horse R race car, will take part over the June 11-14 event.

It will serve as an optional round of the IMSA-sanctioned Mustang Challenge series in 2025.

Further details on the event have yet to be released.

“The inclusion of the Le Mans Invitational in the Mustang Challenge underscores our commitment to delivering thrilling and accessible racing opportunities,” said Ford Performance global director Mark Rushbrook.

“We eagerly anticipate showcasing the best of Mustang performance on one of motorsport’s most celebrated circuits.”

ACO President Pierre Fillon added: “It gives me great pleasure to welcome the Mustang Challenge as a support race for next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“The Mustang has always been an incredible crowd pleaser. Its distinctive roar already resounds on IMSA circuits and we are overjoyed at the prospect of hosting this race.”

Mustang Challenge, which will feature on the support bill for this year’s Lone Star Le Mans FIA World Endurance Championship event at Circuit of The Americas, kicked off its campaign at Mid-Ohio last weekend with a strong 27-car field.

Additional cars are expected throughout the inaugural season, which concludes at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in October.

Ford Performance’s global sports car marketing manager Scott Bartlett was one of the key figures that was in dialogue with the ACO to confirm the event according to Kevin Groot, who serves as the brand’s global sports car manager.

“The idea is to get our customers here at this incredible venue and get them on track in Mustangs, and a lot of them. It’s a simple as that,” Groot told Sportscar365.

“There’s a lot of enthusiasm about it too.”

Groot hinted that Mustang Challenge could expand to other regions in the future, with single-make series in Europe and Australia believed to be currently under discussion.

“We’re excited about the first event and we’re excited to take it to more places. This is the start of that,” said Groot.

When asked specifically about further expansion outside of the U.S., Groot said: “We’re hoping but nothing is official.”

He added: “I think there’s a lot of enthusiasm around it. We’re hoping to take it further.

“We don’t know what that is yet but we’re going to find out.”

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