Ford Performance has unveiled its driver lineup for the two-car Mustang GT3 staff that may make its GTD Pro debut subsequent season within the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Joey Hand and Dirk Müller will probably be reunited in a single entry for the Ford Multmatic Motorsports work staff, and the opposite Mustang will probably be shared by Harry Tincknell and Mike Rockenfeller.

“We’re thrilled to embark on this exciting endeavor and to put our 58 years of global Mustang racing heritage and performance to the test against some of the world’s greatest manufacturers,” Mark Rushbrook, world director of Ford Performance Motorsports, stated in a launch. “We want to welcome Joey and Dirk back to the Ford family after a great few years with the GT program. Combined with Harry’s four wins during the Ford GT program and Mike’s impressive racecraft and résumé, this puts us in a strong starting position in the Mustang GT3’s debut season.”

Hand was a part of Ford’s GT victory within the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans (on the 50-year anniversary of the producer’s first Le Mans win). He had been instrumental within the developmental testing of the brand new GT3.

“I’m super excited to finally announce this program and get going with it,” Hand stated in a launch. “It’s been a long time coming. Been working on this thing for over a year. I’m super thankful and proud to be involved in the early stages of testing the car. We’ve had it on track a lot. I tell you, the first time I drove it, I really liked it. It’s one of those cars, for me, it just fits my style. I knew it right away. I think there are going to be a lot of great years of racing this car.”

Hand and Müller co-drove the No. 66 Ford GT in IMSA from 2016-19, compiling 5 victories (together with the 2017 Rolex 24), 14 podiums and 7 pole positions.

“I’m happy, honoured and grateful to be part of this fantastic Mustang GT3 program with Ford Performance and Multimatic,” Müller stated. “We’ve been working on the new car for a while now and I can’t wait to get out there and start racing. I’m really happy to be back with my buddy Joey. We are already great friends and we’ve enjoyed a lot of success together.”

Tincknell additionally raced a Ford GT in 2017 earlier than transferring onto the Mazda DPi program (the place he gained the premier prototype class on the 2020 Twelve Hours of Sebring).

“I’m very excited to be back with Ford where the family feeling runs right through the organization,” Tincknell stated. “I am working with my race engineer from the Ford GT days and many of the crew are old friends from that time and subsequent Multimatic race programs.”

Rockenfeller is a former 24 Hours of Le Mans and Rolex 24 at Daytona total winner who has made 5 NASCAR Cup begins since final yr whereas additionally co-piloting NASCAR’s Garage 56 program.

“To have the opportunity to join Ford at this point in my career is fantastic and I’m excited to be part of a new program with a new car,” Rockenfeller stated. “I drove the Mustang GT3 at Sebring a couple of months ago and I have raced against the Ford GT many times so I know I am joining a very strong organization.”

Ford has but to call endurance drivers for its Mustangs subsequent season, but it surely’s anticipated that a few of Ford’s World Endurance Championship-affiliated drivers additionally will race within the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup occasions.

It additionally appears probably there may very well be some NASCAR crossovers.

Daytona 500 winner Austin Cindric (the one Cup driver within the Rolex 24 the previous two years) has stated he wants to race the new Mustang in IMSA, and Ford Performance world director Mark Rushbrook has stated the GT3 Mustang will present extra alternatives to usher in NASCAR stars for races such because the Rolex 24.