Vervisch on Ford’s Momentum to N24 With “Clear Target”

Photo: Wes Duenkel/Ford

Frédéric Vervisch believes Ford Racing is carrying significant momentum to the Nürburgring 24, on the heels of the brand’s recent record-breaking runs on the Nordschleife and solid pre-race prep with HRT.

Vervisch, a two-time winner of the Eifel endurance classic, will team up with fellow Ford factory drivers Christopher Mies and Dennis Olsen in the No. 64 Mustang GT3, looking to give the brand its first overall N24 victory in nearly 40 years.

It comes just over a month after the Belgian ace took a Ford GT Mk IV to the third quickest-ever lap ever around the Nordschleife, and the fastest for an American OEM, which produced worldwide headlines for the brand.

“I was very honored that they asked me to do it because I think we have a lot of great drivers who can do it,” Vervisch told Sportscar365.

“I really took that as a big compliment and it’s nice now, that I’m two years with Ford, that they give me this chance. We were quite limited in time and everything, so you always have that kind of pressure.

“The moment itself, it felt good. I think after there was a lot of media return, so it felt even better. It’s starting to sink in.

“It’s good for Ford, for the brand. I think it’s also nice for the Nürburgring. It gives it some life.”

Vervisch’s 6:15.977 lap time was the first of two historic runs for the ‘Blue Oval’ as Dirk Mueller pedaled a Ford Mustang GTD Competition to a 6:40.835 lap time some two weeks later, breaking the track record in the pre-production/prototype class.

“To be part of the dynamic, they’re in every form of motorsport,” said Vervisch. “Basically everything. It’s great to be a part of that and these kinds of challenges are very nice to do.”

While Vervisch and Mies missed last year’s race due to a clash with the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, both former N24 winners are back and said they’re as motivated as ever to deliver a top result.

“It started with the record lap project, then the week after we had the first NLS that we participated in, which was my first time with the Mustang GT3 on the Nordschleife, and we got a podium, which was great,” said Vervisch.

“It’s great to start this period of time on the Nürburgring. It’s going quite quickly and clearly we have a target to win it. We know how to win.”

Mies, a three-time N24 winner, will be making his first start in the race since his 2024 victory, after, like Vervisch, also being forced to miss last year’s enduro due to his WeatherTech Championship commitments.

“We are there to win the race, that’s clear,” Mies told Sportscar365. “I’m lucky that I’ve won it three times but I also want to win it with another manufacturer, which is Ford.

“We’ve put a lot of effort into it. We have a good team behind it in HRT but also the support from Ford Racing and Multimatic is great.

“My expectations are that we can hopefully fight for the win or a podium.

“Last year the Mustang got a podium in Pro-Am. Obviously now we have a strong lineup. Fred has won the race two times, I’ve won it three times and Dennis has always been quick there.

“He’s just missing out on his first win and it would be a cool story if he can have his win with the Mustang, and together with us.”

The race also brings all three drivers back together in the same car, with Mies, Vervisch and Olsen having teamed for the Mustang GT3’s breakthrough first victory in the 2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Mies and Vervisch are also fresh off GTD Pro class victory in the recent round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

“In general, I think we match very well as a driver crew,” said Mies. “We worked together very well in 2025 when he was our endurance driver. We won Daytona together.

“I also shared the car with him in Bathurst. Whenever we can drive together in whatever kind of structure, whether it’s Fred or me or us three together or me or Dennis, it works quite well.”

Vervisch: Team Experience Vital to N24 Success

With the experience of Haupt Racing Team, which has taken part in the N24 since 2020, initially with Mercedes-AMG machinery before switching to Ford for the Mustang GT3’s debut at the Nordschleife last year, Vervisch believes they have all the key ingredients to achieve success.

“I think the team definitely needs to have experience there because the rules are very specific, such as how the fuel is done. It’s a normal pump!” he said. “It’s part of your preparation as well to see if the flow is good of your pump.

“These are things we don’t deal with in other championships.

“Clearly, you have people around the track that [help you with the weather forecasts]. This is all experience from the team, so definitely that helps.

“The Mustang GT3 is a young project. But I think they proved last year that they did a very good job with the first spec of GT3.

“I think the level this year is quite a bit higher because there was a lot of clashes in 2025. I expect high competition but clearly the experience of the team and drivers helps a lot.”

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