The announcement comes nearly a 12 months after Ford introduced grand plans to return to IMSA with Multimatic with two examples of the new-for-2024 Mustang GT3.
Hand and Muller will share one of many two manufacturing unit Mustangs in GTD Professional subsequent 12 months, reuniting the partnership that took a GTLM win on the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2017.
Friday favourite: The racing friends that unlocked a rare formula
The pair additionally helped ship Ford a GTE Professional class victory on the American producer’s return to the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2016, the place they partnered with present Cadillac driver Sebastien Bourdais.
Hand has made a handful of NASCAR Cup appearances for the reason that Ford GT programme got here to an finish in 2019, whereas Muller accomplished a number of outings in Mercedes GT3 vehicles in each America and abroad throughout the identical interval.
Ford’s second manufacturing unit entry shall be shared by 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours winner Mike Rockenfeller and Multimatic-contracted Harry Tincknell.
Rockenfeller break up with Audi on the finish of the 2021 DTM season and has since been competing in IMSA’s prime class, first with Action Express Racing in 2022 within the Michelin Endurance Cup rounds and at present with Proton Porsche, which joined the championship at Highway America with a buyer Porsche.
#68 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GT: Joey Hand, Dirk Müller, Stéphane Bourdais
Picture by: Nikolaz Godet
Tincknell was an apparent selection for Ford given his lengthy historical past with each the producer and Multimatic, which can also be a technical accomplice within the growth of the Mustang GT3.
Tincknell scored 4 victories for Ford throughout their three seasons collectively in WEC between 2016-2019. Outdoors of Ford, the British driver scored a number of DPi race wins in IMSA with Mazda in a programme that was additionally managed by Mutlmatic, and is at present racing a buyer Porsche for Proton in WEC.
Talking concerning the driver line-up, Ford Efficiency Motorsports’ international director Mark Rushbrook mentioned: “We’re thrilled to embark on this thrilling endeavor and to place our 58 years of world Mustang racing heritage and efficiency to the take a look at in opposition to a few of the world’s best producers.
“We need to welcome Joey and Dirk again to the Ford household after an ideal few years with the GT program. Mixed with Harry’s 4 wins throughout the Ford GT program and Mike’s spectacular racecraft and résumé, this places us in a robust beginning place within the Mustang GT3’s debut season.”
No announcement was made concerning the additional drivers that may be part of Ford for the 4 Michelin Endurance Cup rounds.
Other than IMSA, Ford can also be planning to enter WEC subsequent 12 months through buyer squad Proton, topic to gaining an entry from the organisers.
The brand new Mustang might additionally seem within the fingers of consumers in different GT3 races and championships all over the world.