Thrashing a Mustang Dark Horse on Miami’s F1 Circuit Is the Most Sizzling of Hot Laps

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Track circuits always appear diminutive on TV, whether you’re simulating driving them or witnessing someone do it in person. With the velocity that contemporary Formula 1 vehicles maintain through bends, they require ample asphalt and runoff space. Usually, these are scarce at the urban tracks where F1 has been racing recently, but the Miami International Autodrome breaks the mold as a semi-permanent locale that carves its route through the various parking lots of the Hard Rock Stadium. Therefore, as a circuit, it boasts a remarkably pleasing layout—a fact that was rekindled for me before Sunday’s race, when I found my mind reeling in a Ford Mustang Dark Horse during a Pirelli Hot Lap.

The Miami track spans 3.3 miles and features 19 corners of varying speeds. Most of the track sits on level ground, except for the Turn 14-15 chicane, which, despite being the slowest segment of the circuit, happens to be my personal favorite. The ascent to corner 15, combined with the overhead pass and the enclosing walls, gives me the sensation of being in Ridge Racer in the real world, even if just for a fleeting moment. Having Ford factory driver Chris Mies as my guide for this adventure definitely added to the thrill. He earns his livelihood racing a Mustang GT3 in IMSA.

The Miami International Autodrome is technically a temporary circuit, but it has the shape and corner design of a permanent one.

There were several other high-end options for vehicles, such as a Ferrari 296 GTB, Mercedes-AMG GT, Aston Martin DBX707, and McLaren 750S. However, I was particularly looking forward to my ride in the Dark Horse, as I had yet to experience the new Mustang from the inside, and who wouldn’t appreciate a 500-horsepower, five-liter V8 mated to a six-speed gearbox? Chris clearly endorsed the powertrain, as you’ll discern in the on-board video below, and I believe my incessant cheering and shouting speak volumes.

This Dark Horse was also fitted with the optional $4,995 Handling Package, which includes broader 19-inch wheels, magnetic dampers, adjustable strut top mounts, and Pirelli’s P Zero Trofeo RS tires specifically crafted for this vehicle. These tires are developed with multiple compound layers, a technique that Pirelli informed me is derived from its construction of F1 tires, to enhance performance across various aspects. A firmer inner tread aims to improve steering feedback, while a softer outer component maximizes lateral grip. The tire manufacturer asserts that this combination has even enhanced wet-weather capability. Not that it was a concern on that day, with track temperatures soaring well over 120 degrees Fahrenheit under the scorching sun.

The Drive sampled the Dark Horse last year. From my perspective as a passenger, I can confirm that the most potent, fiercest Mustang this side of the GTD exhibited remarkable traction in Miami’s initial burst of high-speed curves, yet it also gave Chris enough leeway to kick out the rear on tight corner exits. Trust me: while my eyes were fixed in one direction, my posterior was swaying in another, yet we reached our destination in one piece. We peaked at about 146 mph, just before entering Turn 11.

You cannot have an unpleasant time in this vehicle or on this circuit even as a passenger, unless motion sickness is a chronic affliction for you. Everyone grapples with their unique health concerns; I deemed myself exceedingly fortunate in those instances as motion sickness isn’t one of mine.

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