Ford Committed to Full IGTC With At Least One Pro Mustang GT3

Photo: Gruppe C Photography/SRO

Ford Racing is committed to contesting all five rounds of Intercontinental GT Challenge with at least one factory-supported Mustang GT3 in each race according to the manufacturer’s global sports car manager Alex Allmandinger.

HRT Ford Racing is giving the Mustang GT3 its Australian debut in this weekend’s Megiuar’s Bathurst 12 Hour, with a single-car entry for Chris Mies, Dennis Olsen and Repco Supercars star Broc Feeney.

While already confirmed for top-class entries in the next two IGTC rounds at the Nürburgring and Spa, also with the German squad, details on Ford’s partner team(s) are still being worked out for the Suzuka 1000km and season-ending Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS.

However, Allmandinger confirmed that the ‘Blue Oval’ will provide factory support to its Pro class entries at all rounds this year.

“We’re only able to confirm, at the moment, is Bathurst, Nürburgring 24 and Spa 24, as part of those entries with HRT,” he told Sportscar365.

“We’re really excited to be competing in the full season. There’s still some details to work out for the last two rounds and what gives us the best chance to win at those two events.

“We still need to work through some of those details. We’re not quite at the point of sharing [details about] partners and entries and how we’ll combat it.

“Certainly there will be Pro entries, and very much so factory supported entries. We’re really excited about that.”

Ford, along with Chevrolet, were announced last month as the two new manufacturer additions to SRO Motorsports Group’s globe-trotting GT3 series, joining incumbents BMW, Ferrari, Porsche and Mercedes-AMG.

“IGTC brings together some of the biggest races in sports car racing and some very marquee events,” said Allmandinger.

“I went to the Indy 8 Hour last year and it was exciting and we’re excited to bring hopefully two cars there this year, if not more, and to continue make sure we bring our best efforts to these marquee events.”

While a number of GT3 brands attempt to have their factory drivers contest a full IGTC season in order to also make a bid for the drivers’ championship, a costly clash between the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship round at Watkins Glen in late June will prevent both Mies and Olsen from taking part in the Belgian endurance classic.

With only one Mustang GT3 on the grid this weekend, and Feeney being a full-time Supercars driver, Allmandinger admitted there’s no easy solution on the driver front.

“We’ve thought about it and played a strategy game a bit there and how you get to every event,” he said.

“It’s difficult with so much overlap this year. Obviously we have Chris and Dennis both prioritizing their IMSA entries, and the clash with [24 Hours of] Spa makes it difficult.

“So we’ve had some discussions of how we can fight for the drivers’ championship. It’s challenging but I think we can certainly still do well.

“But piecing the puzzle together it gets more and more difficult. Every year there’s always some overlaps and clashes and everything.”

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