IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge

{{Infobox motorsport championship

| logo =

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| category = One-make sports car racing

| country/region = United States

| inaugural2 = 2024

| drivers =

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| constructors = Ford

| engines =

| tyres = Michelin

| champion driver =

| champion team =

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| website = [https://performance.ford.com/series/mustang-challenge/overview.html Mustang Challenge]

| current_season = {{CURRENTYEAR}} IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge

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The IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge is a one-make sports car racing series held in the United States that features Ford Mustang Dark Horse R race cars. The series is sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association.

History

The unveiling of the seventh-generation Ford Mustang brought with it a slew of special editions and motorsport activations, including the introduction of the Dark Horse R track edition in July 2023.{{Cite web |last=Gauthier |first=Michael |date=July 27, 2023 |title=Whoa, Nellie! Ford Mustang Dark Horse R Introduced For One-Make Racing Series |url=https://www.carscoops.com/2023/07/whoa-nellie-ford-mustang-dark-horse-r-introduced-for-one-make-racing-series/ |access-date=June 26, 2024 |website=Carscoops |language=en}} The car resembles the track day-focused Dark Horse S, but features unique wheels and a racing fuel cell on top of the FIA roll cage, tow hooks, upgraded brakes, rear wing, and re-designed exhaust system featured on the Dark Horse S.{{cite web|url=https://www.motor1.com/news/675670/ford-mustang-dark-horse-r/|title=Ford Mustang Dark Horse R Teased On New Social Media Platform Threads|first=Adrian|last=Padeanu|work=Motor1.com|date=July 7, 2023|accessdate=June 26, 2024}} The Dark Horse R additionally features a six-speed manual gearbox and an anti-lock braking system, with a base price of approximately $150,000.{{cite web|url=https://www.hagerty.com/media/motorsports/we-go-wheel-to-wheel-in-fords-new-mustang-challenge-series/|title=We Go Wheel-to-Wheel in Ford's New Mustang Challenge Series|first=Larry|last=Webster|work=Hagerty|date=June 18, 2024|accessdate=June 26, 2024}}

Alongside the car's announcement came the launch of a new spec racing series, dubbed the Mustang Challenge, which was initially set to support six IMSA race weekends in 2024. The series would be managed by the Ford Performance Racing School and officially sanctioned by IMSA.{{cite web|url=https://www.imsa.com/news/2023/07/27/imsa-sanctioned-mustang-challenge-ready-to-launch-in-2024/|title=IMSA-Sanctioned Mustang Challenge Ready to Launch in 2024|work=IMSA|date=July 27, 2023|accessdate=June 26, 2024}} Entries would additionally race on bespoke Michelin tires, and top finishers would receive contingency payouts at each race event as well as at the conclusion of the season.{{cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/mustang-challenge/ford-confirms-mustang-challenge-single-make-series-for-dark-horse-r/|title=Ford Launches Mustang Single-Make Series for Dark Horse R|first=John|last=Dagys|work=Sportscar365|publisher=John Dagys Media|date=July 27, 2023|accessdate=June 26, 2024}} The champion, for instance, received a cash prize of $40,000 or a $100,000 scholarship towards a seat in a Ford Mustang GT3 or GT4 entry.{{cite web|url=https://www.imsa.com/news/2023/10/26/ford-performance-announces-mustang-challenge-race-schedule-details-format-prize-structure/|title=Ford Performance Announces Mustang Challenge Race Schedule, Details Format & Prize Structure|work=IMSA|date=October 26, 2023|accessdate=June 26, 2024}} This allowed the series to operate as the first step of an internal ladder for Ford Performance's GT-racing efforts, in which drivers could begin competing in Mustang Challenge races before progressing to a GT3 seat through exceptional performance.{{cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/mustang-challenge/long-mustang-challenge-a-natural-ladder-for-ford/|title=Long: Mustang Challenge a "Natural Ladder" for Ford|first=Jonathan|last=Grace|work=Sportscar365|publisher=John Dagys Media|date=June 7, 2024|accessdate=June 26, 2024}}

The 2024 calendar was officially announced in October 2023, featuring five race weekends totaling ten race events. The season began at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in June, before visiting Watkins Glen International and Road America in support of the IMSA SportsCar Championship later in the summer. The Mustang Challenge then joined the FIA World Endurance Championship at Circuit of the Americas and the Intercontinental GT Challenge at Indianapolis to conclude its inaugural season. The class structure was also finalized, featuring an at-large Dark Horse class alongside an optional Dark Horse Legends class for Bronze-rated drivers over the age of 45.{{cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/mustang-challenge/indianapolis-to-close-out-inaugural-mustang-challenge-season/|title=Indianapolis to Close Out Mustang Challenge Season|first=John|last=Dagys|work=Sportscar365|publisher=John Dagys Media|date=October 26, 2023|accessdate=June 26, 2024|quote=The field... will be split into two classes – Dark Horse and Dark Horse Legends... an optional classification eligible to bronze-level drivers 45 years old and over.}} The series' inaugural event at Mid-Ohio welcomed 26 entries, including Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley, who piloted the #17 entry for MDK Motorsports.{{cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/mustang-challenge/mustang-challenge-set-for-series-kickoff-at-mid-ohio/|title=Mustang Challenge Set for Series Kickoff at Mid-Ohio|first=John|last=Dagys|work=Sportscar365|publisher=John Dagys Media|date=June 5, 2024|accessdate=June 27, 2024}} Tyler Maxson scored the series' first ever pole position,{{cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/mustang-challenge/maxson-charges-to-mustang-challenge-pole/|title=Maxson Charges to First Series Pole at Mid-Ohio|first=Jonathan|last=Grace|work=Sportscar365|publisher=John Dagys Media|date=June 8, 2024|accessdate=June 27, 2024}} while Robert Noaker won the series' inaugural race.{{cite web|url=https://www.imsa.com/news/2024/06/08/noaker-takes-historic-victory-in-first-race-for-mustang-challenge/|title=Noaker Takes Historic Victory in First Race for Mustang Challenge|work=IMSA|date=June 8, 2024|accessdate=June 27, 2024}}

Following the series' inaugural round, an invitational round supporting the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans was announced.{{cite web|url=https://performance.ford.com/series/mustang-challenge/news/articles/mustang-challenge-series/2024/6/mustang-challenge-2025-le-mans-invitational-.html|title=Dark Horse R drivers to take on the ultimate race at the 2025 Mustang Challenge Le Mans Invitational|work=Ford Performance|date=June 14, 2024|accessdate=June 27, 2024}}