Ford will likely be represented within the DTM for the primary time in over three a long time, with the American marque inking a brand new partnership with long-time Mercedes buyer HRT for 2025.
The outfit run by businessman and gentleman driver Hubert Haupt will discipline a pair of Ford Mustang GT3s within the DTM subsequent yr, run underneath the Ford Efficiency HRT banner.
Will probably be part of a bigger collaboration between Ford and HRT that can see the German squad enter the GT3 model of the favored muscle automotive in different European championships, together with the NLS, GT Masters and GT World Problem Europe.
The tie-up with HRT marks the subsequent stage within the enlargement of the Mustang GT3 programme after Ford launched the automotive in restricted capability at first of 2024.
Along with Multimatic, which co-developed the Mustang GT3, Ford entered the automotive on a factory-basis within the GTD Professional class of IMSA SportsCar Championship this yr, whereas Proton secured further buyer entries within the pro-am GTD class and its LMGT3 equal within the World Endurance Championship.
Proton additionally entered the GTWCE Endurance Cup with an all-Professional entry after plans for Dinamic Motorsport to change from Porsche fell via.
“Having a workforce like HRT be a part of the Ford Efficiency international household is a big second for us,” mentioned Mark Rushbrook, international director, Ford Efficiency Motorsports.
“Haupt Racing Workforce’s confirmed success in DTM and different race sequence is a robust endorsement of the Mustang GT3, and we’re thrilled to see them tackle the legendary ADAC RAVENOL Nurburgring 24 Hours in addition to most of the different iconic circuits of Europe.
Haupt Racing Workforce Ford Mustang GT3
Picture by: Ford Efficiency
“This additionally implies that together with our companions at Multimatic and Proton Competitors, the Ford Mustang GT3 will now be competing at a lot of the iconic, 24-hour races at circuits comparable to Le Mans, Daytona and Spa.
“This collaboration strengthens our international place in GT3 racing and opens up new sequence and audiences for us all over the world as we proceed to develop the Mustang racing program in 2025.”
HRT had been a serious buyer of Mercedes because it was fashioned in 2020, however its contract with the German producer was on account of expire on the finish of the yr.
Within the 5 years it has spent racing the Mercedes-AMG GT3, HRT gained the DTM title at its first try with Maximilian Gotz when the championship switched to GT3 guidelines for 2021, plus the Silver Cup title within the Dash leg of GTWCE with Jordan Love in 2023.
HRT managing director Ulrich Fritz mentioned: “HRT has repeatedly developed and improved over the previous few years.
“We’ve constructed up a excessive degree of experience within the use and improvement of race vehicles. We’re due to this fact very enthusiastic about this new mission.
“The truth that Ford has chosen HRT as its spearhead in Europe is a superb honour. Ford is an actual energy model with an ideal motorsport custom and excessive motivation.
“The Ford Mustang GT3 is a latest-generation race automotive that we’ll actually have the ability to take to the subsequent degree collectively.
“We will likely be effectively ready for the upcoming season and are very a lot wanting ahead to working with Ford.”
Ludwig, pictured in Vacationer Trophy motion in 1988, gained that yr’s DTM title in a Sierra RS 500
Picture by: LAT Photographic
Ford has a historical past of competing within the unique iteration of the DTM. A earlier model of the Mustang GT had a cult following within the sequence, with Gerd Ruch final racing the automotive in 1994.
Furthermore, Le Mans 24 Hours legend Klaus Ludwig clinched his first DTM title whereas driving a Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth in 1988, the one championship success for Ford within the sequence thus far.
Ludwig went on to attain two extra titles with Mercedes in 1992 and 1994.
Haupt Racing Workforce Ford Mustang GT3
Picture by: Ford Efficiency
