DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Driving under the Daytona Beach welcome sign this time around brought back so many emotions. Last time I was here, I was standing on the roof of a Ford Mustang GT3 in victory lane having achieved a lifetime’s ambition. Daytona International Speedway holds so many special memories, but it also is our next challenge as we prepare for the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
I am looking forward to building on our successes – with Ben Barker and Mike Rockenfeller by my side, joined by Christopher Mies, Frédéric Vervisch and Sebastian Priaulx in the sister car to complete a strong Mustang GT3 roster in the GTD Pro class. Our first target is to leave Daytona with another Rolex watch!
While last year’s Rolex 24 At Daytona was very emotional – filled with immense pressure and intensity to the final lap – there was a sense of calm returning for November’s IMSA-sanctioned test. For 2026, we will introduce the next evolution of the Mustang GT3, to kick-off the 125th anniversary of Ford Racing, and I will get to do that with some of my closest friends and teammates – our Ford family.
It’s an honor to be representing Ford Racing and Multimatic Motorsports as a full-time driver in the No. 64 Mustang GT3 this season. While this will be my first complete season in IMSA, I know what to expect. I’ve been to most of the tracks already, except for Virginia International Raceway and the streets of Detroit.
It is important to show that America’s Race Team can win its home series. It’s also one of the most important markets for the brand, as the birthplace of more than 10 million Mustangs that have been delivered to customers globally.
Ben will share the seat with me for all 10 races. He deserves this seat, as evidenced by the last two seasons in the FIA World Endurance Championship. He’s like a brother to me, and we’ve always had that open communication to share feedback on the car. We are ready and motivated to push hard in 2026 and try and deliver some great results for Ford Racing.
Mike, our designated endurance racing ace, needs no introduction as a true veteran of the sport. “Rocky” brings a wealth of knowledge to this program, having contended for the class championship with two major victories – not only in endurance, but also in a sprint racing format. I’m going to sleep well at Daytona knowing he’s behind the wheel, because he always makes the right decisions.
These highly competitive series demand not only great drivers, but also – and even more – better teammates. A major part of last year’s Daytona success was cultivated by Chris and Freddy, both who will continue their driving duties together in the No. 65 Mustang GT3. Their unrivaled relationship has forged great results because they know each other well – so in-sync to where they know what to expect from one another.
Seb has really come into his own and will complete the No. 65 endurance racing line-up. Despite being a young driver, he is tremendously talented in his pursuit from Mustang GT4 to the Ford factory GT3 program. He’s like his dad, Andy, as he’s dedicated to exceeding what the sport requires from him as a top-level driver.
Some might ask, “why change the formula?” Here, we have a line-up of true championship-contenders – united in maximizing the Mustang GT3. It’s not only for us, but also for everyone included in this project. We are here to showcase the updated Mustang GT3 and reward everyone’s hard work.
Bringing the Mustang GT3 home to its first global victory was both an incredible experience and journey to get there. I became a father less than one month before the race; my wife and I welcomed Ellie into the world. Many people said that I’d lose a couple tenths of a second as a new father. I sure proved them wrong that weekend and rest assured, I aim to do that this season as a full-timer.
We are going into January’s Rolex 24 At Daytona confident, because we have all the right pieces to build on our successes in the third year of the Mustang GT3. The target is – and always is – winning the championship.
