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Reviving its presence in factory-endorsed endurance competitions, the Ford Mustang made a resounding impact at the 24 Hours of Daytona, challenging traditional competitors like Porsche, BMW, and Chevrolet. This also signaled a bold declaration from Ford: the Mustang has assumed the position of its primary high-performance vehicle. As the Ford GT fades into history with no comeback on the horizon, the spotlight now shines on the pony car. Why opt for the Mustang instead of developing a purpose-built race car from scratch? According to Ford, the inspiration to designate the Mustang as its frontrunner actually emulated from Porsche and its legendary 911.
“We gleaned that from other brands—just to be transparent, our key takeaway was from Porsche and their approach in creating such opportunities with the 911—it’s something viable for us to pursue without constraints,” Jay Ward, Global Director of Ford Performance Motorsport communications, disclosed to The Drive at Daytona.
Ford
The Porsche 911 caters to a diverse audience, from the standard model to the hardcore 911 GT3 RS, and the fact that Porsche engages in racing with the 911 not only generates revenue but also enhances the model’s prestige among enthusiasts. Ford is mirroring a parallel strategy with the Mustang now, offering entry-level trims that escalate to competitive track-oriented configurations like the high-powered Dark Horse and extreme Mustang GTD.
“Considering the number of individuals participating in Mustang racing on any given weekend, be it club races or track events or otherwise, it is imperative to race with a clear objective,” Ward emphasized. “This cannot be merely for leisure; there must be a purpose behind it. Especially with the new Mustang, this represents a significant business opportunity—venturing into GT3 and GT4, and Dark Horse R. By maintaining a sharp focus, one can boost revenue while simultaneously augmenting the brand’s value.”
Porsche
Throughout the weekend, Mustang owners witnessed vehicles reminiscent of their own conquering Daytona and holding their ground against the top offerings from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes, and of course Porsche. This validates the Mustang’s position in the realm of racing and amplifies the car’s performance prowess in the eyes of a global audience. It’s a brand elevation that only motorsport can provide. The track record of competitive victories and sales achievements of the 911 undeniably demonstrate the possibilities, indicating that Ford has indeed gleaned from the finest.
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