Mustang Challenge series to be reborn using the Dark Horse R
Miss the Mustang Challenge race series? It’s about to be reborn using the track-only 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse R.
The one-make Mustang Challenge series raced its final event on September 12, 2010, after three seasons of competition. It was formed through a partnership between Miller Motorsports Park in Utah and Ford Racing, fielding identically-prepared Ford Mustangs, and sanctioned by Grand Am, which later became the current IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
The Mustang Challenge series will again be in partnership with IMSA. It’ll be six weekends with 12 races, with a schedule to be determined after IMSA announces its 2024 schedule.
The cars will start, as before, with a common body in white. The engine, transmission, and differential will be based on the Dark Horse R equipment. It’ll be fitted with Multimatic DSSV spool-valve dampers and adjustable sway bars, as well as Brembo brakes. The race car will use the Dark Horse’s 5.0-liter V-8 and Tremec six-speed manual transmission.
The car and the series will slot in beneath the current GT4 Mustang, which competes in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series. The price is $145,000 for a turnkey car, a bargain if you’ve shopped for professional race cars lately. Spares packages will be available, and if the racing is like the old Mustang Challenge series, they’ll be needed.
It seems likely the car could head to the Sports Car Club of America races too, but the SCCA hasn’t classified the Dark Horse R yet. It seems likely it could go in the T1 class.
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Should be interesting to see. I know it’s spartan but what does the interior look like?
I’m sorry, but we all know Mustangs can’t corner (youtube fail videos abound), so I hope they only have drag racing in this series! I jest of course.
If you can’t turn right and race in the rain, it ain’t racing
They corner better than any gm.
Will be interesting to see how many competitors they will have. Kind of a high price point for the amateur type of racer, but they evidently have figured there will be enough. Affordability is why Spec Miata is so successful. I look forward a Mustang competing in the GT3 class (IMSA GTD) and the old GT4 car is no longer real competitive in IMSA GS – Michelin Pilot Challenge so will be glad to see how the new GT4 does.
How do you buy one?