Applications are now open for entry into next year’s Mustang Challenge Le Mans Invitational, which will see a full grid of Ford Mustang Dark Horse R race cars compete at the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe in support of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Announced in June, interest in the event, organized by ORECA under FIA and ACO sanctioning, has been high according to Ford Performance global sports car manager Kevin Groot, who revealed that competitors from as far away as Australia are working to put programs together.
“We have customers from all over the world who would like to write their own history during such a storied event,” Groot told Sportscar365.
“There are people and teams that are getting creative to experience this opportunity, which underscores the passion our customers have for Mustang and sports car racing.
“We are continually refining how to best help those who are interested, which includes leveraging some infrastructure we have in Europe. There are a lot of logistics involved in this project, and while it’ll be a busy time, it’s exciting for everyone involved.”
Ford Performance partner Multimatic Motorsports has established a dedicated website for competitors to submit expressions of interest for the June 11-14 event, with drivers asked to submit their CV and level of racing experience.
Each request is sent to Ford Performance’s team for a thorough vetting process, with the goal of offering high-level competition on one of motorsport’s biggest stages.
“We’re looking for experienced racers that are capable of competing in both [Mustang] Challenge and at this Le Mans Invitational,” said Ford Performance motorsports program supervisor Dave Born.
“Those who have done some track days in their Mustang, have limited wheel-to-wheel experience, or do not have a racing license of any kind may not qualify. We are striving to create a safe and competitive racing environment for all our participants, while also bringing a unique experience to Le Mans.
“While we set a standard of what’s expected from our competitors, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they couldn’t have further instruction, do some racing, get some wheel-to-wheel experience between now and then to earn a qualified racing license.”
Born said the schedules for both the IMSA-sanctioned Mustang Challenge and new-for-2025 Mustang Cup, which will be sanctioned by USAC, have been crafted with the Le Mans Invitational specifically in mind.
Initial plans are for Ford Performance to offer transport for up to 40 Dark Horse R race cars through two Boeing 747 freighters to France, with additional subsidies for Mustang Challenge competitors, such as the transport of some support equipment.
A total field of up to 70 cars is being targeted for the event, which will feature two 40-minute single-driver races.
“Once we established this opportunity, we worked quickly with both sanctioning bodies – IMSA and USAC – to make sure we left a big enough window in both series’ seasons so that we could accommodate getting these vehicles to-and-from the event efficiently,” said Born.
“We have also considered the unexpected and if that is the case, teams should still have an opportunity to work on their cars and get them properly prepared to make both of their next events.”
Born hinted that the 500-horsepower Dark Horse R could feature several small, but purposeful technical enhancements for the cars to be better suited to the high-speed 8.5-mile circuit.
“This is a legendary place,” he said. “I don’t know of anybody who’s interested in road racing that doesn’t want to at least see Le Mans, let alone get the opportunity to drive on it.
“The feedback from all of the folks that are in [Mustang] Challenge this year has been outstanding, and we’re fortunate to have such a passionate group in our first running of the series. They’re just over the moon at the opportunity.
“Likewise, the logistics are a ton of work, and I’ll give Scott Bartlett [Ford Performance global sports car marketing manager] a lot of credit for that. He’s leading the charge by working directly with our partners in France.”
The initial vision of a full field of Dark Horse R race cars roaring through Circuit de la Sarthe took shape during a Le Mans planning trip ahead of this year’s competitive debut of Mustang GT3 at Le Mans, in which Bartlett pitched the idea to ACO representatives.
“This was one of those ideas that you expect to land on the cutting room floor – a great idea, but there is no way we’re going to make it happen,” Bartlett said.
“But the Ford Performance leadership team is made up of passionate racing enthusiasts, who see the value of bringing Mustang Dark Horse R to one of the biggest stages in the world for racing. The response was clear: ‘We have to make this happen.’
“It’ll be more than a race for all of these participants, it’ll be a bucket list item checked off and the fulfillment of a life-long dream. The team at Ford Performance, ORECA, ACO, IMSA and the rest of the partners that are involved are excited to help make it happen.”
Groot said that the success of the Le Mans Invitational could help jumpstart additional Mustang Challenge or Cup series in other parts of the world, such as Europe and Australia, in the future.
“I know Mark [Rushbrook, Ford Performance global motorsports director] is very hopeful and proactive in creating opportunities to help racers develop with Mustang,” he said.
“We are continuing to determine our next steps to facilitate these opportunities for our customers and offer them a sturdy platform to grow into the sport and live out their racing dreams with Mustang Challenge and Cup.”