The Ford Mustang GT3 made waves when it was first announced, the machine allowing Ford to return to GT racing for the first time since the GTE was retired in 2019. Having been announced at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans, Ford’s new baby made its competition debut at the 2024 24 Hours of Daytona.
As of the February 2025 update for Le Mans Ultimate, the LMGT3 version of the car is now available for drivers to pilot whenever the mood takes them. This guide will shine a light on the vehicle, and whether it’s the right steed for you to progress your GT racing journey.
The Mustang GT3 Has Proven A Potent Weapon In Real Life
The Mustang GT3 raced in most major worldwide series featuring GT cars in 2024, such as the IMSA Sportscar Championship, the World Endurance Championship and the GT World Challenge. The vehicle proved tricky to extract the most from during its maiden campaign, though Ford’s factory IMSA program started to pick up in the latter stages of the year.
The #64 entry, piloted by Christopher Mies, Harry Tincknell, and Mike Rockenfeller, managed to claim a pair of runner-up race results on their way to sixth in the driver’s standings. Its first rostrum result came at the storied 24 Hours of Le Mans, courtesy of the #88 Proton Competition finishing third. A first victory would have to wait until 2025, though the Mustang did it in style by finishing first and third in the 24 Hours of Daytona.
The Mustang GT3 won over fans in real life for its throaty naturally aspirated V8 engine, which stood out from the quieter turbocharged units that feature in most GT3 cars. This, and its classic Mustang shape, are the main reasons it also stands out in Le Mans Ultimate.
- The Mustang GT3 should prove a potent weapon for a variety of drivers, whether you prefer sprint or endurance races, or whether you have significant driving experience or not. Check out this onboard lap in LMU at Portimao:
Car Specifications & Key Features
Wanting the Mustang GT3 to reflect the roadgoing Mustang Dark Horse as closely as possible, Ford decided to utilise its naturally aspirated Coyote V8 for the project. It was modified further for race use, with the main difference being an increase in displacement from 5.0 to 5.4 litres. The finished article sends 550 hp to the rear wheels, though Balance of Performance measures in different series will see this figure fluctuate depending on where it races.
As a GT3 machine, M-Sport, the service provider charged with developing the car alongside Ford Performance, developed a range of weight-saving components, such as doors made from carbon fibre. The engine was placed out front like the road car, though behind the front axle, while the six-speed sequential transmission was placed out back to help improve weight distribution.
- The Mustang GT3’s elaborate aero package encompasses an adjustable front splitter and rear spoiler, as well as a rear diffuser
- LMU replicates all the main aspects of the Mustang GT3 in-game, from its unique engine to its advanced electrical assistance systems
To ensure you can get up to speed with LMU, take a look through Coach Dave Academy’s thorough Ultimate Starter Guide to Le Mans Ultimate.
Handling & Performance on Track
The main buzzword that describes the Mustang GT3 is ‘stability.’ The car provides a consistent platform from the moment you first leave the pits, with a generally neutral balance shifting towards understeer should you ask too much of the front tyres. This is mainly due to its front-engined layout, which puts more weight on the front and causes it to push on.
The Mustang also has a longer wheelbase than most of its rivals, which further enhances high-speed stability. This does reduce its overall responsiveness though, so it’s a car you need to prepare before the corner, otherwise you could slip into a prolonged understeer state.
The front-engine layout and long wheelbase ensure it provides great stability in high-speed bends when you enter at the correct speed. This affects its ability to change direction quickly, especially in slower-speed corners like the chicane at the Bahrain Outer Circuit. You’ll need to turn it in earlier than you think due to its hesitancy to turn quickly.
- Getting it slowed adequately before the bend is important, otherwise, it’ll understeer
- The Mustang GT3’s layout also means it’s supremely stable under braking, with the rear staying nicely in line to allow you to scrub off the speed you need
- Tyre wear is also balanced evenly across all four corners during a stint, making it a handy endurance weapon
- The naturally aspirated V8 provides a nice linear power and torque curve, making it easier to get it off the corner
- Traction control rarely kicks in above first gear as a result, but smooth throttle application is important to maximise available traction
- In LMGT3 spec, the Mustang has less power and less downforce than when in full standard GT3 configuration, which can be found in ACC and iRacing
Best Tracks for the Ford Mustang GT3 in Le Mans Ultimate
Due to the Mustang GT3’s impressive top speed and stable platform in high-speed bends, it best suits high-speed circuits with long straights. The best examples of these on LMU are Le Mans and Monza, which are largely made up of long straights and heavy braking zones, where the stable Mustang also excels. They also feature high-speed curves, where the stability of the Mustang comes up trumps, especially considering you’ll be running a lower downforce setup.
- These elements carry over to wet surfaces as well as dry, making it a more viable option on its worse tracks in wet weather compared to more agile but less stable cars that have it beat in the dry
- Bear in mind that it can be easy to overdrive corners in the wet, where the heavy front end and tendency to understeer can cost you a tonne of time
These attributes are borne out in real life, considering where the real car has found its success. All its best results have come at tracks where straight-line speed and high-speed stability are important.
- This is illustrated by its Le Mans podium, its 2025 Daytona victory, and other podium finishes at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Virginia International Circuit
Need Some Setups For Your Mustang GT3?
As the official partner for Le Mans Ultimate, you can be sure you are in good hands with Coach Dave Academy. Who provides setups for every single car in the game. Every setup bundle comes equipped with a qualifying, safe race and pro race setup, that gets updated in line with every update to the game, as well as telemetry data so you can see how our pro drivers extract the time.
Gain seconds in lap time with our incredible Le Mans Ultimate setups developed by professional sim racers and qualified engineers.
- Setups
- Data
- Lap Guides
How It Compares to Other Cars in the Class
The Mustang GT3 feels closer to the likes of the BMW M4 GT3 and Aston Martin Vantage GT3, which are also front-engined. It struggles when it comes to changing direction when compared to mid-engined contenders like the Ferrari 296 GT3 and the McLaren 720s GT3 Evo.
- The Mustang’s 107-inch wheelbase is longer than the 296 (104.7 inches), and 720s (106.1 inches) is a big reason for this relative lack of agility, as is its front-engined configuration
- The shorter build and mid-engine construction allow these cars greater agility, but less stability during the corner and under-braking
- The Mustang’s BOP also ensures it’s one of the fastest cars in a straight line
Players who tend to relish having more straight-line speed to fight with rather than excelling in the bends will be better suited to the Mustang, as it will allow you to play to your strengths. This also goes for those who have a more stop-start driving style, as in getting the car stopped in a straight line, clipping the apex and getting the car straightened out and on the power as fast as possible.
The Mustang excels when being driven this way, and will prove a potent weapon at faster tracks like Le Mans and Monza.
To take a look at the other cars available as part of LMU’s LMGT3 class, Coach Dave Academy’s overview of them will do you right.
Final Verdict: Is the Ford Mustang GT3 the Right Choice for You?
All in all, the Mustang GT3 is a fun and engaging car to drive. It may not be the most agile LMGT3 challenger in LMU, but you can get it into the shapes you need once you work out how to extract the most from it. It may lack the raw pace needed to excel in sprint racing, but its neutral balance and consistent tyre-wear tendencies mean it’s a force to be reckoned with over longer stints and races.
| Pros | Cons |
| Its front-engined layout and long wheelbase ensure it has excellent high speed and braking stability | Long wheelbase and front engine configuration means it’s not as agile when changing direction as mid- or rear-engined rivals |
| Its BOP and slippery shape ensure it’s one of the fastest LMGT3s in a straight line | Suffers from understeer should you not scrub off enough speed into any kind of corner, It’s very tough to regain grip once you’ve overcooked it |
| It’s very stable and approachable in the wet, making it a good choice for less-experienced wet drivers | |
| The Mustang’s balanced driving style means tire wear is evenly distributed during a stint |
Overall, the Mustang GT3 is generally best suited to newer drivers due to the stability it offers. This will allow less-tuned-in racers to find their limits easier, and quickly build up confidence as they complete laps. Drivers who don’t suit mid-engined driving styles of braking late and carrying corner speed will also relish the Mustang.
- Aggressive Drivers: 5/10
- Endurance Racers: 8/10
- Casual Sim Racers: 9/10
Wrapping Up
The Ford Mustang GT3 provides a fun driving experience, whether it becomes your primary choice or not. Its raw V8 below is infectious, and its approachable driving style makes it an easy car to jump into and attack whatever ribbon of tarmac you find yourself tackling.
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