MacFarlane Using Barber as First Taste of Mustang GT4

Photo: Tyler Duane/Ford

Mustang Cup USA front-runner Carlton MacFarlane said he’s using this weekend’s Pirelli GT4 America races at Barber Motorsports Park as a first glimpse into the world of GT4 racing, ahead of a planned full season effort with the Ford Mustang GT4 next year.

The third-generation Canadian racer, who finished third in both the Parnelli and Miles Cups in his first year of car racing, is set for his GT4 debut, joining Ford Racing Driver Development Team member Jenson Altzman behind the wheel of the No. 11 McCumbee McAleer Racing entry.

MacFarlane’s first laps in any race car came last December in a test at Daytona International Speedway, when he drove the Ford Mustang Dark Horse R on the Florida high banks under the tutelage of Altzman, who has worked with the 18-year-old over the past 12 months.

“We took him to Daytona. It was a pretty steep learning curve, but he did really good,” Altzman told Sportscar365. “We threw him in the Mustang Cup [this year], he had a great season and finished third in both championships.”

Having driven for MMR in the USAC-sanctioned single-make series, MacFarlane has jumped one rung on the Ford Racing ladder straight into GT4 competition, effectively bypassing Mustang Challenge North America.

His only prior experience with the Mustang GT4 prior to this weekend came in a test at Roebling Road Raceway in Savannah, Ga. several months ago, but was able to use Thursday’s track action at Barber as a direct comparison to his Mustang Cup race weekend at the Alabama road course in March, where he scored his first career podium finish.

“Honestly, when I first got out there, I’m like, ‘OK, I can probably drive a lot deeper than a Dark Horse R but let’s just start at my Dark Horse R braking points,” said MacFarlane.

“The biggest thing I noticed was the lateral grip difference we have in this car compared to the Dark Horse R. You just carry a lot more rolling speed through the corners.”

Altzman said they’re heading into this weekend with “minimal expectations” but with some key goals in mind.

“We’re just really excited to see Carlton be able to race in a multi-brand field and start to really hone in on his race craft,” he explained.

“The Dark Horse Rs are all the same. Mustang Cup is a great product; I really like the tire that the class races on, but for him to come here and really start to get his toes into some proper racing.

“There’s different level of drivers. We have really good Ams here. We have really good Silvers and really good pros. He only has so much seat time.

“Our aim is to continue to work with him. He’s only been racing cars for a year.

“Where he’s come from, from his first time on race track not even 12 months ago, he’s already learned so much. So we’re just really excited to see where what we can do.”

When asked about his targets for next year, MacFarlane said it’s the plan to be in GT4, but declined to indicate whether it would be a full season GT4 America campaign or an effort in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.

The Chad McCumbee and Stevan McAleer-owned squad runs Mustang GT4s in both series.

“We don’t have all of the details ironed out yet, so I can’t talk too much about it but we’ll be doing some GT4 stuff next year,” he said.

Altzman, meanwhile, said it hasn’t been decided yet if MacFarlane will be back in the car for next month’s GT4 America season-ending rounds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

His regular GT4 America co-driver, Zachary Lee, has pivoted to GT America powered by AWS this weekend, utilizing the same car that Altzman and MacFarlane will race on Friday and Saturday.

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