AUSSIES STAMPEDE TO LE MANS

As many as 10 eager Australians will line up to race at Le Mans in June.

They will be taking places in a unique one-make race for the Ford Mustang Dark Horse R.

The 2025 Mustang Challenge Le Mans Invitational is a new, optional round of the US Challenge schedule, with track time spread through five 45-minute sessions over three days.

There will be two practice sessions, followed by qualifying, with two 45-minute races culminated with a finale on Saturday morning before the start of the 24-Hour sports car classic.

The Australian places – which are also open to New Zealanders – have been allocated to Andrew Miedecke in his role as the offical GT4 Mustang agent for Ford Motorsport in Australia.

"It's an experience that money almost cannot buy. We've had a very positive response and two of my mates have already said 'Yes, please'," Miedecke tells Race.news.

"So that leaves eight spots, and ideally I'd like two or three Kiwis and the rest Australians.

"Ford Performance and Multimatic have seen what we're able to do and we've got a big allocation because Australians love Mustangs.

He said the numbers do not count himself or his son George, who has been racing and winning with a GT4 Mustang in Australia, although both are considering a hit-out at Le Mans.

The price for the event is surprisingly 'affordable' for what are described as 'gentleman racers', at around $75,000 without adding travel and accommodation costs.

"The bill comes to about $65,000 for car hire, entry free and tyres. And I'm allowing roughly $10,000 for additions, things like mechanic's wages," Miedecke explains.

All of the Dark Horse R racers, identical to the one on display last weekend at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, will be brand-new and built to the one-make specification for the Challenge series in the USA.

"It will be a brilliant experience. And there is a race on the morning before the start of the 24-hour," says Miedecke.

The total grid will be around 50 cars, but Miedecke says that will not be a problem as Le Mans is "a big track with a big car capacity".

The package for drivers in the event will include tickets for driver and crew members, VIP access to Ford areas, as well as a tie-up with UK and European teams to assist with work on the Mustangs.