Mustang GT3 EVO Update the “Tool to Boost” Customer Sales

Photo: Wes Duenkel/Ford

Ford Racing is aiming that the gains made from its EVO package is the “tool to boost” customer sales of the Mustang GT3 according to its global sports car motorsports manager Alex Allmandinger.

The Detroit manufacturer, which rolled out with a comprehensive update to the Multimatic-built GT3 contender at the start of the year, has enjoyed success in multiple series this year, including GTD Pro class victory in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, a maiden overall pole position in GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup competition and podium finish in DTM.

“I think we’ve really sharpened the car up,” Allmandinger told Sportscar365. “It was a big time commitment last year to do all the development. We were still early in the program. We learned a lot as soon as we got on track.

“It’s been paying off. It’s been awesome. The win at Laguna. We struggled. That was one of our weakest tracks in 2024 and 2025 and to get the win in 2026, that was the success mark for the EVO and a proof-point in all the time and work everyone put in to develop the car.

“We followed that up with the podiums at Detroit and Watkins Glen. We’re on a pretty good run this season with the car in IMSA.

“But it’s not only been [in IMSA]. Especially as you go to the series without torque sensors in Europe, on the Pirelli tire, that was another place where we needed to improve.

“The car was making steps from 2024 to 2025, and then the EVO from 2025 to 2026, we’ve made a huge step.

“We had a really strong race at the Nürburgring 24, a strong race at [24 Hours of] Spa but unfortunately had a few issues that affected the finishing position but we’ve had a lot of pace in Europe as well.

“I think the EVO was that last jump we needed to make a good car a really great car.”

When asked if he thinks the visible on-track improvements will lead to more customers next year, Allmandinger said: “Ultimately customers are looking for the best tool possible to give them a chance to win every single weekend.

“We think the EVO has done that. We can prove that we can win at a track like Daytona, we can win at a track like Laguna, we’ve been successful at such a wide range of tracks this season that we think that EVO is really that tool to boost customer sales and put the right car in the hands of the customer.”

Ford “Ready to Support” Larger Global Customer Effort

While having initially focused on a measured rollout of the car, primarily in the WeatherTech Championship, FIA World Endurance Championship and GTWC Europe, Allmandinger said Ford has all of the pieces in place to support a significantly larger customer base in nearly all corners of the globe.

Haupt Racing Team, which has become a pillar of Ford’s European GT3 programs, has expressed interest into expanding into both the European and Asian Le Mans Series.

There also appears to be expansion within the Asia-Pacific region, with Melbourne Performance Centre poised to run a car in next month’s Suzuka 1000km.

“There’s definitely interest, not only here in North America but in Europe and elsewhere globally, and we’re always looking to expand our programs and expand in the right ways,” said Allmandinger.

“When you look at 2024, our first year, you’ve got to be a little bit conservative on how quickly you expand.

“We really want to make sure when we sell cars, there’s the right level of support. They can get help from our team and our support team in Europe and globally.

“We’ve really built up that team in Europe, that team in Australia. We’re in a position now where ready to support a much larger, global customer effort.

“We have been this year, and that’s been a big part, in my opinion, to being ready to expand and bring in new customers. I think we’re definitely in that position.”

Allmandinger said they’re not focused on one particular series as part of its customer expansion plans.

“We want to be racing everywhere,” he said. “If you look at some of the series we’re not in today, ELMS, ALMS (Asian Le Mans Series).

“The GT4 has seen a lot of success in Australia and we’d love to see some GT3s start racing there and that will also build that customer base and our effort at the Bathurst 12 Hour, obviously being a big event.

“Getting more of those cars in each region is what we’re hoping to do.”

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