Ford will be represented in the DTM for the first time in more than three decades, as the American brand signs a new partnership with long-time Mercedes customer HRT for 2025.
The company run by businessman and driver Hubert Haupt will field a pair of Ford Mustang GT3 cars in next year’s DTM, under the Ford Performance HRT banner.
It will be part of a larger collaboration between Ford and HRT that will see the German team enter the GT3 version of the iconic muscle car in other European championships, including the NLS, GT Masters and GT World Challenge Europe.
The tie-up with HRT represents the next stage in the expansion of the Mustang GT3 program after Ford introduced the car in limited capacity at the start of the 2024 model year.
In collaboration with Multimatic, which co-developed the Mustang GT3, Ford has entered the car on a factory basis in the GTD Pro class of the IMSA SportsCar Championship this year, while Proton has secured additional customer entries in the pro-am GTD class and its LMGT3 equivalent in the World Endurance Championship.
Proton was also entered into the GTWCE Endurance Cup with an All-Pro entry after Dinamic Motorsport’s plans to switch from Porsche fell through.
“Having a team like HRT join the global Ford Performance family is an important moment for us,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports.
“Haupt Racing’s proven success in the DTM and other racing series is a strong endorsement of the Mustang GT3, and we are thrilled to see them competing at the legendary ADAC RAVENOL Nurburgring 24 Hours as well as many other iconic circuits in Europe.
Haupt Racing Team Ford Mustang GT3
Photo by: Ford Performance
“This also means that alongside our partners in Multimatic and Proton Competition, the Ford Mustang GT3 will now compete in most of the iconic 24-hour races at circuits such as Le Mans, Daytona and Spa.
“This collaboration strengthens our global standing in GT3 racing and opens up new series and audiences around the world as we continue to develop the Mustang racing program in 2025.”
HRT has been a major customer of Mercedes since its founding in 2020, but its contract with the German manufacturer was scheduled to expire at the end of the year.
In its five years racing a Mercedes-AMG GT3 car, HRT won the DTM title in its first attempt with Maximilian Götz when the championship switched to GT3 rules for 2021, as well as the Silver Cup title in the Sprint Stage of GTWCE with Jordan Love. In 2023.
Ulrich Fritz, Managing Director of HRT, said: “HRT has continuously developed and improved over the past few years.
“We have built up a high level of expertise in the use and development of racing cars. So we are very excited about this new project.
“The fact that Ford has chosen HRT as its spearhead in Europe is a great honour. Ford is a strong brand with a great tradition in motorsport and a great motivation.
“The Ford Mustang GT3 is a race car of the latest generation, and we will certainly be able to take it to the next level together.
“We will be well prepared for next season and are very much looking forward to working with Ford.”
Ludwig, pictured at the 1988 Tourist Trophy event, won that year’s DTM title in a Sierra RS 500
Photography: Lat Photography
Ford has a history of competing in the original version of the DTM. The previous version of the Mustang GT was very popular in the series, with Gerd Roche last racing the car in 1994.
Furthermore, 24 Hours of Le Mans legend Klaus Ludwig clinched his first DTM title while driving a Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth in 1988, the only championship Ford has achieved in the series to date.
Ludwig went on to win two more titles with Mercedes in 1992 and 1994.
Haupt Racing Team Ford Mustang GT3
Photo by: Ford Performance
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