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The Ford Mustang Dark Horse R has been revealed as a turn-key track car for enthusiasts and is the catalyst for a new, one-make Mustang Challenge series.
Ford’s latest competition is based on the “track-capable” Mustang Dark Horse road car, which has its media-drive debut this week in the US.
The R reflects Ford’s increased focused on customer racing with its latest, seventh-generation Mustang, serving as a more affordable, entry-level competition car below the FIA-grade GT3 and GT4 versions also unveiled this year.
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The Dark Horse R will feature exclusively in an all-new Mustang Challenge racing series due to kick off in 2024 and sanctioned by North America’s International Motor Sports Association (IMSA).
About half of the 10 to 12 races planned for the Mustang Challenge calendar will incorporate North American sports car racing weekends.
"Mustang Dark Horse R bridges the gap between Dark Horse and Mustang GT3 and GT4," said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “Production-based Mustang vehicles have raced from the very beginning, all the way back to winning the 1964 Tour de France, even. Dark Horse R offers our passionate customers not just an attainable, factory-built race car, but also a racing series to compete with other Mustang enthusiasts.”
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Ford has set a price of US$145,000 ($215,000) for the Dark Horse R, which owners can also use to compete in other grassroots motorsport events.
The R shares plenty of components with the street-legal Mustang Dark Horse, including its drivetrain that comprises 5.0-litre V8, Tremec six-speed manual, Torsen limited-slip differential. The road car produces 500hp (373kW), where Ford quotes “500+ horsepower” for the R.
It’s fitted out, however, with multiple, track-focused features (see list below), and is available with slick Michelin tyres created for the Mustang Challenge series.
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Ford Australia has no plans to introduce a Mustang Challenge series, though it says the option is there for local track-day enthusiasts to purchase a Dark Horse R from Canadian company Multimatic.
However, in addition to the US$145,000 price tag for the left-hand-drive-only Dark Horse R, buyers would be responsible for shipping and other associated costs with getting the car here.
2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse R key features
| 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse R Exterior | |
|---|---|
| Front and rear tow hook | Underbody tie down hoops |
| Reinforced jacking points | |
| 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse R Interior | |
|---|---|
| Recaro FIA racing seat | Safecraft FIA safety nets |
| Sparco quick-release steering wheel | Driver keypad and button controls |
| Sparco FIA racing harness | MoTeC data display and logging system |
| Sparco FIA fire suppression system | Fuel cell |
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| 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse R Drivetrain | |
|---|---|
| Upgraded oil system | Borla racing exhaust system |
| Upgraded transmission cooling | Ford Performance oil pan |
| Upgraded differential cooling | |
| 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse R Chassis | |
|---|---|
| Roll cage | Adjustable anti-roll bars |
| Multimatic DSSV dampers | Select seam welding |
| Adjustable front camber plates | |
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| 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse R Brakes/Wheels/Tyres | |
|---|---|
| Performance ABS | Race brake cooling ducts |
| Brembo race calipers – Front | Ford Performance Parts R1 Flow-Formed Wheels (19” x 10.5” front, 19” x 11” rear) |
| Brembo race rotors - Front | Bespoke Michelin 19” slick race tyre for Mustang Challenge, sold separately |
| Brembo race pads | MSI wheel studs and open lug nuts |
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