IMSA to debut new single-make series using the Mustang in 2024

Using the Ford Mustang Dark Horse R, the new IMSA Mustang Challenge will hold 12 races across six weekends in 2024.

The Mustang Dark Horse R, a turnkey race car, is powered by a 5.0-liter Coyote V8 producing more than 500 horsepower. It joins two other Mustangs slated for IMSA competition next season: the GT3 and GT4.

“Mustang Dark Horse …

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I love single-make racing series. I'm excited to learn more.

The previous iteration of Mustang Challenge (2007-2010) was pretty cool. Hopefully this re-boot will have similarly large fields and good racing. 

So, MX-5 cup, Lamborghini Trofeo Cup, Porsche Cup, and now Mustang Challenge?  I already don't watch the first three because it's boring racing, often with more time under caution than green...

In reply to racerfink :

How on earth can anyone possibly describe the MX-5 Cup as 'boring racing'?

It's often the best racing of the entire weekend.

Looks great, sounds great, and has 500hp.  "The Dark Horse R starts at $146,595" which is nearly double the cost of a MX-5 Cup car, but something like $70K less than a Porsche Cup car.  I'm curious to see what the field sizes will be for this.

racerfink said:

So, MX-5 cup, Lamborghini Trofeo Cup, Porsche Cup, and now Mustang Challenge?  I already don't watch the first three because it's boring racing, often with more time under caution than green...

So they all get "Cups".  For Mustang drivers, it is a "challenge"?    I dont know why but that amused me.   

jb229 said:

In reply to racerfink :

How on earth can anyone possibly describe the MX-5 Cup as 'boring racing'?

It's often the best racing of the entire weekend.

Not when they spend 38 minutes of a 45 minute race under yellow.

In the video above, the female driver's suit clearly has a ThorSport logo.  They are the NASCAR Truck team HQ'ed here in my home town of Sandusky, OH. 

Then, looking a the Thorsport website the driver then has to be Hailie Deegan.  Reading that I see this 22 yr old is the daughter of a X-Gamer,  

Further more, watching the track, my guess is this was shot at The Corvette Track in Bowling Green, KY.  If so, some irony there of a Mustang shoot at the Corvette track.

John Welsh said:

In the video above, the female driver's suit clearly has a ThorSport logo.  They are the NASCAR Truck team HQ'ed here in my home town of Sandusky, OH. 

Then, looking a the Thorsport website the driver then has to be Hailie Deegan.  Reading that I see this 22 yr old is the daughter of a X-Gamer,  

 

Further more, watching the track, my guess is this was shot at The Corvette Track in Bowling Green, KY.  If so, some irony there of a Mustang shoot at the Corvette track.

Not sure what track it is.  But that is absolutely not NCM.  They have no high fencing, zero runoff, no dirt, etc. 

John Welsh said:

Further more, watching the track, my guess is this was shot at The Corvette Track in Bowling Green, KY.  If so, some irony there of a Mustang shoot at the Corvette track.

LMAO no that's GingerMan in western MI.

At a cost of $140,000 just for the car its going to be expensive.

I think it sounds really interesting but there will never be any racing. We all know that all Mustang's spin out and hit curbs and light poles when exiting a lot.

Ha, ha really lame reference to all the Youtube Mustang vids but it seems funny to picture it.

XR7 said:

At a cost of $140,000 just for the car its going to be expensive.

As someone once said to me many years ago, the hauler doesn’t care what’s inside–and that’s your big expense: travel. Travel for the car, travel for the crew. The car’s initial price isn’t a big part of a touring series like this. 

ztnedman1 said:

John Welsh said:

In the video above, the female driver's suit clearly has a ThorSport logo.  They are the NASCAR Truck team HQ'ed here in my home town of Sandusky, OH. 

Then, looking a the Thorsport website the driver then has to be Hailie Deegan.  Reading that I see this 22 yr old is the daughter of a X-Gamer,  

 

Further more, watching the track, my guess is this was shot at The Corvette Track in Bowling Green, KY.  If so, some irony there of a Mustang shoot at the Corvette track.

Not sure what track it is.  But that is absolutely not NCM.  They have no high fencing, zero runoff, no dirt, etc. 

Pretty sure that's gingerman.  

Edit:

Doh!  Didn't read far enough down.