Ford Ramping Up Global Mustang GT4 Support

Photo: British GT

Ford is expecting an increased presence of Mustang GT4 machinery globally this year, with ramped up customer support for the car in both the UK and Europe, according to Ford Performance motorsports director Mark Rushbrook.

While having claimed victories and championships in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and Pirelli GT4 America competition since the car’s debut in 2017, the Multimatic-built Mustang GT4s have largely been seen only in North America.

That will change this year, with Multimatic Motorsports set for a two-car Mustang GT4 effort in the British GT Championship, as well as additional customer cars in British GT and throughout Europe.

“We started the program with the thought that we wanted it to be global,” Rushbrook told Sportscar365.

“That’s the advantage with the SRO and the global homologation. That’s definitely part of the strategy and getting more cars there.”

Spawning from its factory FIA World Endurance Championship program with the Ford GT, which is currently confirmed only through the end of the 2018-19 season, Multimatic will field a pair of Mustang GT4s in British GT for development drivers Scott Maxwell and Billy Johnson along Sebastian Priaulx, son of Ford WEC driver Andy.

At least one additional Mustang GT4 will be on the British GT grid, with Race Performance having announced plans to enter the series with drivers Aron Taylor-Smith and Sam Smelt.

Rushbrook said Multimatic’s presence in the UK-based championship is aimed to help grow the market in Europe.

“To have customers to buy a car in a new country or region, you need to have cars there in numbers, so that those customers know you’re going to have the proper support there,” he said.

“That’s part of our strategy. You’ll see more Mustangs over there, more than in just the British GT Championship.

“That is very exciting for us. The Mustang is a global car, so to be able to sell the Mustang GT4 as a global car as well.”

The expansion hasn’t been limited to just Europe, with a Mustang GT4 having been sold to a customer in the Australian GT Championship, after the car completed demo laps during the Bathurst 1000 weekend last year.

While there are no specific overseas sales targets, Rushbrook said they’re selling cars “about as fast” as Multimatic is able to build them at its factory in Markham, Ontario.

He said more than 30 Mustang GT4s have been so far produced.

Ford Plotting Mustang GT4 Evo

Rushbrook said dialogue has begun on a future Evo kit for the car, although it remains in the early stages of development.

Multimatic rolled out mechanical and durability updates to Mustang GT4 last year, which is allowed within the SRO-managed GT4 regulations.

It’s understood any performance-related changes would be classified as an Evo.

“We’re looking within what you’re allowed to do for GT4 in terms of Evos,” Rushbrook said.

“[The question is] when is the right time to do it and what do we want to do with it? Whether we make some powertrain changes or body changes.

“We haven’t made any decisions on when or what that will be yet or what it will be, but that’s part of the planning.”

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