The Rolex 24 At Daytona is one of motorsport’s most prestigious endurance racing events, and Ford Racing will return to defend its GTD Pro class crown with Mustang GT3, January 21 – 25. Daytona International Speedway’s 14-turn, 3.57-mile road course layout requires a delicate balance of pure speed and finesse, which will serve as the maiden stop for the evolution of the Mustang GT3 and its global tour.
The Ford Mustang, celebrating its 62nd anniversary in 2026, is the world’s best selling sports car. It is also one of the planet’s most popular race cars. With Mustang Dark Horse-based race cars competing in international sports car competition (GT3 and GT4), NASCAR, Australian Supercars, NHRA, Formula Drift, at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and in its own bespoke one-make series – Mustang Cup and Mustang Challenge – the platform has an unprecedented global reach. This weekend, 12 Mustang race cars are scheduled to compete at Daytona.
FAST FACTS
- Dennis Olsen, Christopher Mies and Frédéric Vervisch powered the Mustang GT3 to its first global victory in last season's Rolex 24 At Daytona, earning top honors in the GTD Pro class.
- Ford celebrates 125 years of racing this season – more than one century of proven innovation and passion toward true race-to-road integration. The 1901 “Sweepstakes” car, which ignited that passion, will be featured on-site in the Ford midway display, circled by the evolution of the Mustang GT3 competing trackside.
- In development since 2023, the Evo package for the Mustang GT3 features refinement in aerodynamic, kinematics and braking and set to competitively launch during this year's Rolex 24 At Daytona.
- This season also marks 60 years since Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby led the Ford GT40 Mk II to Ford’s first 24 Hours of Daytona victory.
DRIVER QUOTES
BEN BARKER, No. 64 Ford Racing Mustang GT3
“The updated Mustang GT3 is ready for its first race outing, and we couldn’t be more prepared – the team has gone through every detail with a fine toothcomb. Personally, I’m like a coiled spring! I can’t wait to get my first full season of IMSA underway.”
DENNIS OLSEN, No. 64 Ford Racing Mustang GT3
“It will be special to go to Daytona after last year’s win and our goal is the same as last year, that is to win. We’re all looking forward to racing the updated Mustang GT3, so let’s see what we can do!”
MIKE ROCKENFELLER, No. 64 Ford Racing Mustang GT3
“It was a Ford win at Daytona last year, so we’ll go there looking for the same result. We came close in the No. 64 Mustang GT3 with a podium finish, so it would be nice to go out there and bring home another Rolex. We have a strong all-round package and hopefully with the updated car we’ll be even stronger. It’s always interesting to get to Daytona and see where you are in comparison to the competition. We all know it’s one of the toughest races in the world so I’m proud to be part of it and to represent Ford again."
CHRISTOPHER MIES, No. 65 Ford Racing Mustang GT3
“I now have a full IMSA season under my belt, so this should help our championship fight. We have a strong line-up and a strong team. I’m excited about what we can achieve this year. I’m feeling well rested, ready to go and I can’t wait to race the new Mustang GT3."
FRÉDÉRIC VERVISCH, No. 65 Ford Racing Mustang GT3
“We’re feeling good going into Daytona. We go there as the defending GTD Pro race winners, and we have an updated Mustang GT3. We’re excited to see what we can do this time around. The line-ups have been shuffled, and I think driving with Chris and Seb will be great. Of course, we will miss Dennis, but we are very much one team with two cars. I’m looking forward to getting stuck in.”
SEBASTIAN PRIAULX, No. 65 Ford Racing Mustang GT3
"Wouldn’t it be great if we could have a repeat of last year and take the win for Ford? It’s a tough race but the updated Mustang GT3 should give us improved ‘raceability’ and more opportunities to challenge at the front. I’m looking forward to getting out there and joining my new teammates, Chris and Fred. As is always the case with Daytona, you need to be on the lead lap in the final hour and ready to pounce!”
JOEY HAND, No. 66 Gradient Racing Mustang GT3
“This time last year, I was coming to Gradient Racing as a new addition, and they welcomed me with open arms and now we've become family. I can’t wait to get started and see what we can do together now that we’ve built a good foundation. There were a lot of times last season where we showed we had great pace in the Mustang GT3, and I really believe we're going to have strong results coming our way in 2026. I have new teammates that I'm excited to race with Jake (Walker) and Corey (Lewis), and it’s really great to have Till (Bechtolsheimer) back with us for the endurance events.”
TILL BECHTOLSHEIMER, No. 66 Gradient Racing Mustang GT3
“This team feels like home to me, and I think this is going to be yet another great chapter. We know the Mustang GT3 a lot better, now that we have a year of experience with it, and we have also got to know each other a lot better as a team. The goal this year is to come out swinging and capitalize on opportunities. We have the new Evo kit on our Ford Mustang, the entire Gradient Racing team has been very hard at work, and we’re all feeling confident, motivated, and prepared coming into Daytona.”
FELIPE FRAGA, No. 16 Myers Riley Motorsports Mustang GT3
“It’s a real pleasure to be joining Riley for the seventh time together. I can’t wait to see this new program with Ford come to life. We have such great memories together from Le Mans 2019 with the Ford GT. We’ve done some simulator testing and I feel very confident that we’ll be in the fight. I’m really looking forward to joining Sheena, Jenson, and Romain. It’s a pleasure to be part of this program, and we’ll work very hard to achieve great things together once again.”
ROMAIN GROSJEAN, No. 16 Myers Riley Motorsports Mustang GT3
“I am super excited to be back at the 24 Hours of Daytona. It’s a race I’m particularly fond of. I’m also really happy to be racing with Myers Riley, a team I like a lot as well. The Ford Mustang GT3 is a car that has already proven itself on track and can be very fast. I think we have a really strong team with high hopes, and we’re hoping to have a good weekend.”
