Over a year since Ford first announced the new Mustang GT3 and four years since the end of the Ford GT programme, the Blue Oval is back in 2024 with plans to enter a two-car factory team in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship, with the two full-season driver pairings for the 2024 season announced today.
Joey Hand, Dirk Müller, Harry Tincknell, and Mike Rockenfeller will drive the two Ford Performance Mustang GT3s in IMSA next year, with 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans class winners Hand and Müller in one car, and Tincknell sharing the other with Ford newcomer and Le Mans overall winner Rockenfeller.
Both cars were built and will be managed by Ford’s longtime partners at Multimatic Motorsports.
“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,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsports.
“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, Müller, and Tincknell previously featured as integral members of Ford’s last factory sportscar racing effort, racing the Ford GTE – which was also constructed by Multimatic – from 2016 to 2019.
“I’m super excited to finally announce this program and get going with it,” said Hand, who has served as the lead development driver for the Mustang GT3.
“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’s resume also includes an overall victory in the 2011 24 Hours of Daytona, and the 2011 American Le Mans Series GT class championship, during his time as a BMW works driver – a championship which he shared with his co-driver Müller.
Müller raced with Hand for four years at Ford, their partnership culminating with class victories at the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 2017 Daytona 24 Hours. The German veteran also won the 2004 Nürburgring 24 Hours during his previous run as a BMW works driver.
“I’m happy, honoured and grateful to be part of this fantastic Mustang GT3 program with Ford Performance and Multimatic,” Müller said. “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 (Hand); we are already great friends and we’ve enjoyed a lot of success together. I can’t thank Ford and Multimatic enough for this opportunity. Daytona is suddenly just around the corner so let’s get going.”
Tincknell also rejoins the Ford racing family after taking multiple victories in the World Endurance Championship. The British driver is a two-time class winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in two different categories.
“I’m very excited to be back with Ford where the family feeling runs right through the organization,” Tincknell said. “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 programmes.
“I’m looking forward to driving with Rocky. When I was racing in European Formula 3 in 2013, German DTM was the headline event and that was the year that Rocky won the title. Now, competing at the same level as him is pretty surreal when I think back to those days.”
Rockenfeller, who has previously served as a works driver for Audi and General Motors throughout his decorated career, will now embark on a new challenge at Ford.
‘Rocky’ was part of the Audi crew that set the all-time distance record when they won the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans. That same year, he also claimed the overall victory in the Daytona 24 Hours, and in 2013, he won the DTM championship at the height of its super silhouette touring car era.
“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 said.
“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.”
