Credit: Ford Performance / LICENSE BY: Wes Duenkel
Joey Hand, Dirk Müller, Harry Tincknell and Mike Rockenfeller will represent Ford Performance, as the Detroit manufacturer debuts its new Ford Mustang GT3.
The American company will enter the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the GTD Pro class next year, with two entries using the new Ford Mustang GT3, with numbers 64 and 65.
As per the format in IMSA, there will be two full-season drivers per car although it is not specified yet about who will pair up with whom. Furthermore, no third drivers have been announced for the Endurance Cup rounds, plus the fourth for the 24 Hours of Daytona season-opener next January.
“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, 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.”
Tincknell current drives in Proton Competition’s Porsche WEC Hypercar pursuit and their IMSA GTP efforts, preparing to take on Petit Le Mans this Saturday 14 October.
Ford’s previous notable GTE/GTLM programme saw Tincknell gain four WEC race wins from the inception in 2016, to its conclusion in 2019.
Much of his IMSA experience is revolved around his Mazda DPi career having driven an endurance prototype since the 2018 season.
Credit: Copyright © 2017, Jake Galstad, LAT Photo
The 31-year-old Briton said: “I’m very excited to be back with Ford where the family feeling runs right through the organization.
“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.
‘I’m looking forward to driving with Rocky (Mike Rockenfeller). 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 is one of four drivers to have won Le Mans 24 Hours and the Daytona 24 Hours in the same year (2010), and alike Tincknell, he has driven a Porsche 963 LMDh albeit for JDC Miller Motorsports. He was also a driver in the Garage 56 NASCAR effort at the Centenary Le Mans, run by Hendrick Motorsports.
“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.”
“I’m happy, honoured and grateful to be part of this fantastic Mustang GT3 program with Ford Performance and Multimatic,” Muller added.
(L to R) Dirk Müller, Joey Hand, Mike Rockenfeller and Harry Tincknell – Credit: Ford Performance
“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.”
Hand and Muller both previously drove for Ford in the IMSA GTLM programme, and shared a Daytona 24 class-win in 2017, amidst five wins and 14 podium finishes from 2016 to 2019.
“I’m super excited to finally announce this program and get going with it,” Hand said.
“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.”
Next year’s IMSA WeatherTech debut for the Mustang GT3 will commence at Daytona with the Roar Before the 24 on 19-21 January, followed by the 61st edition of the 24 Hours of Daytona on 27-28 January.
Keyword: Ford announces 2024 IMSA full-season works drivers for Mustang debut