DE
EN
- Ford Performance and HRT agree on long-term partnership
- HRT becomes Ford Performance Team in Europe for DTM and on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife
- Factory debut for Ford in the DTM with the new Ford Mustang GT3
- NLS program for the further development of the Ford Mustang GT3 and with the goal of winning the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring
- HRT also runs Mustang GT3 in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS and other race series.
- RAVENOL to become HRT's new lubricant partner from the 2025 season
The Haupt Racing Team is entering a new era in its success story: Starting next season, the highly decorated German DTM team will compete as factory supported team with the Ford Mustang GT3 as part of a long-term cooperation spanning multiple race series.
At the heart of the partnership are factory entries in several high-profile racing series and championships, most notably the DTM. HRT Ford Performance – the official name of the team – will enter two Ford Mustang GT3s in the 2025 season. This marks the official return of the US manufacturer to the prestigious series. Ford previously competed in the DTM as a works team between 1984 and 1989 and even won the drivers' championship in 1988.
HRT will contest an extensive racing program with Ford Performance. In addition to the DTM, factory-supported races on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife will be a second focus. In the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), the Ford Mustang GT3 will be jointly developed with the goal of winning the legendary 24-hour race at the Nürburgring for the Ford brand for the sixth time. HRT will also compete in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS.
In addition, HRT is planning a regular customer racing program in 2025, for example in the ADAC GT Masters, which will continue to be the foundation for the development of HRT's young talent. The launch of a junior driver development program is on the cards for the coming years, as potentially also is the expansion of the racing commitment to the GT4 sector and other junior motorsport categories.
The partnership between HRT and Ford Performance also includes technical development work. The Ford Mustang GT3, presented in 2023, is set to achieve an even higher level of racetrack-specific maturity thanks to HRT's expertise. The 5.4-liter V8-powered race car is based on the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse and represents the most advanced GT3 version of the legendary Mustang line.
Alongside the cooperation with Ford, HRT is also entering into a new partnership with RAVENOL. The Ravensberger Schmierstoffvertrieb GmbH brand will be the official lubricant partner of HRT Ford Performance starting with the 2025 season. This will become visible in the DTM and in the 24 hour race at the Nürburgring, where HRT will enter a Ford Mustang GT3 in the full RAVENOL design. HRT's other Ford GT cars will carry a RAVENOL co-branding. In addition, HRT and RAVENOL will work closely together on a technical level: As such, the use of RAVENOL products in the racing cars will contribute to the further development of the high-quality lubricants.
Ulrich Fritz, Chief Executive Officer Haupt Racing Team: “HRT has continuously developed itself over the past few years. We have built up a high level of expertise in the use and development of race cars. We are therefore very excited about these new partnerships. The fact that Ford has chosen HRT as its spearhead in Europe is a great honor. Ford is a real power brand with a great motorsport tradition and high motivation. The Ford Mustang GT3 is a latest-generation race car that we will certainly be able to take to the next level together. We are also looking forward to RAVENOL. I am sure we can make a good contribution to the further development of lubricants. We will be well prepared for the upcoming season and are very much looking forward to working with Ford and RAVENOL. To Mercedes-AMG, I would like to say thank you for the many years of trusting and always constructive cooperation as a Performance Team."
Mark Rushbrook, Global Director Ford Performance Motorsports: “Having a team like HRT join the Ford Performance global family is a significant moment for us. Haupt Racing Team’s proven success in DTM and other racing series is a strong endorsement of the Mustang GT3, and we’re thrilled to see them take on the legendary ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring 24 Hours as well as many of the other iconic circuits of Europe. This also means that along with our partners at Multimatic and Proton Competition, the Ford Mustang GT3 will now be competing at most of the iconic, 24-hour races at circuits such as Le Mans, Daytona and Spa. This collaboration strengthens our global position in GT3 racing and opens up new series and audiences for us around the world as we continue to grow the Mustang racing program in 2025.”
Martin Huning, Director RAVENOL Motorsport: “As the official lubricant partner of HRT Ford Performance, we are providing our full technical support. It will be spectacular when the Ford Mustang GT3 returns to the DTM grid in 2025 - after more than 30 years. We will also supply the team with the products they need for other events such as the ADAC GT Masters or endurance races such as the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring. We are very much looking forward to working together and are excited about the new partnership.”
About HRT: The Haupt Racing Team (HRT) was founded in 2020 by racing driver and entrepreneur Hubert Haupt and is now an established name in international GT3 racing. The team's greatest successes to date include the 2021 DTM Drivers' Championship, the 2023 GT World Challenge Europe title (driver and team) and the 2023 ADAC GT Masters team title. In addition, there are numerous class wins and podium finishes in the 24 hour races at the Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps. The HRT RACE BASE is located right next to the Nürburgring. At this state-of-the-art operations center, HRT also carries out technical development projects and organizes motorsport events of all kinds.
About Ford Performance: Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO British GT, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, World of Outlaws, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and our latest commitment in Formula 1 with Red Bull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford's racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts.
For more information regarding Ford racing's activities, please visit Performance.Ford.com or follow @FordPerformance auf Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, TikTok and YouTube.
About RAVENOL: RAVENOL is the brand name of the Ravensberger Schmierstoffvertrieb GmbH. RAVENOL develops, produces and markets high-quality lubricants. Today, RAVENOL products are available in more than 100 countries worldwide. RAVENOL has been actively involved in motorsport since 2004; as an official supplier and partner of motorsport departments of well-known manufacturers, race tracks, racing teams, drivers and racing series. For example, in the DTM, the ADAC GT Masters, the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie and the ADAC RAVENOL 24h race at the Nürburgring, RAVENOL is the reliable series partner.
