Le Mans Invite Winner McLeod Confirmed for Phillip Island

Cameron McLeod has been confirmed on the Motorcraft Mustang Cup Australia grid for this weekend’s inaugural round at Phillip Island, and will race the same Dark Horse R that brought him to Ford’s attention at Le Mans last year.

McLeod secured victory in the one-off Mustang Challenge Le Mans Invitational last year, putting him on the radar of the blue oval’s talent scouts.

His win earned McLeod a place in the Ford Racing’s Development Team evaluation process in Detroit, going head-to-head against other young Ford drivers that compete in Mustang Cup, Mustang Challenge and GT4 competition.

The 21-year-old Australian was selected as part of this year’s 14-member Ford Racing Driver Development Team contingent, showing the opportunities that exist for young guns competing in Ford race cars anywhere around the world.

Ford’s global one-make series racing manager Chris Ward is at Phillip Island this weekend and says that McLeod’s place in Mustang Cup Australia brings his Ford journey full circle.

“To see Cam McLeod compete in the Motorcraft Mustang Cup Australia here at Phillip Island is almost like a closing of the Ford Racing circle,” said Ward.

“Cam enjoyed victory at the very successful Le Mans Invitational last year, then this past January, he was put under an intense driver training program before being announced as a member of the Ford Driver Development Team for 2026.

“It’s going to be exciting to watch him compete in this brand-new championship in Australia, and really shows the possibilities that Ford is offering our drivers.”

McLeod will race the exact Dark Horse R chassis that he won his two races at Le Mans and will be part of a four-car RM Race Team effort.

“It’s great to race a Dark Horse R at Phillip Island, racing the same Dark Horse R and wearing the number I raced with at Le Mans,” said McLeod.

“I have to give a massive thanks to Ford who have helped put this together. It was awesome to see so many drivers announced in the last fortnight, so I knew I really wanted to do this. There are some really high-caliber drivers who will be very tough to beat.

“If I can display the pathway from Mustang Cup to GT4, then to GT3, and finally to LMDh, it will show the possibilities the Ford Driver Development Team can achieve.

“It is a great honor to be in the second batch of drivers and the only Australian.

“I’ll also be driving the Ford Mustang GT4 this weekend, and I think it will help my overall results. It’s essentially the same package and both will have very similar characteristics, so I don’t think there will be a significant difference

History will be made at Phillip Island tomorrow when 15 Mustang Dark Horse Rs venture out for the inaugural round of Mustang Cup Australia.

The entry list features a lineup of drivers that includes Supercars race winners, rising motorsport stars and experienced steerers.