The 2005 Mustang GT-R Concept
by CP Staff
1970: Bud Moore, George Follmer and Parnelli Jones were important names in Trans-Am Racing, mainly because they won the 1970 Trans-Am Championship for Ford Motor Company. The Trans-Am Boss 302 Mustangs proved that Ford could win a manufacturer's trophy. At the end of the 1970 season, Ford canceled all racing efforts.
2004: Doug Gaffka could be a name that will be remembered kindly in the future. "We decided that when a car as good as the 2005 Mustang comes along, we don't need to look much further for a pure race car," he said when talking about the Mustang GT-R concept car revealed this month at the New York Auto Show. Gaffka is Design Director, Ford Performance Group.
The Mustang GT-R features Ford Racing's 440-horsepower Cammer crate engine that is available to racers, and can be tuned to produce more than 500 horsepower under some race series rules. the motor's flanged cylinder liners help provide 94mm (instead of 90.2mm) cylinder bores, creating a full 5.0 liters of piston displacement.
While the motor employs the SVT Mustang Cobra's forged crankshaft with six-bolt mains and Manley H-Beam rods for superior strength, the high-strength Ford Racing block features design reinforcements and a revised material for added strength and high-output durability. The block is specially reinforced in the crankcase web areas for high torque loads.
Other key differences include forged pistons, an 11.0:1 compression ratio, ported heads, higher-lift cams and beehive-shaped valve springs. The crate engine also features higher-flow fuel injectors and magnesium, variable-geometry intake manifold.
Helping put the power to the ground is the Ford Racing-supplied TTC T-56 six-speed transmission linked to the engine through a heavy-duty clutch and flywheel assembly. Power exits the transmission through a custom metal-matrix-composite aluminum driveshaft into a race-spec. differential with a 4.56:1 final drive ratio.
"The Mustang GT-R shows that Ford is back in road racing in a serious way," says Jim O'Connor, Ford group vice president, North America marketing, sales and service. Very interesting…
While conceptual in spirit, the Mustang GT-R is built by racers and is a capable performer with an eye on stepping up Mustang's road-racing presence. Several racing series - American LeMans, SCCA Trans-Am, GrandAm Cup and FIA GT - could easily accommodate the Mustang GT-R. For example, the car could meet some series rules with basic modifications to the brakes, wheels, tires and body parts.
The car also hints at a turnkey, grassroots racing package that could be sold through the FRPP catalog and distribution network.
The Mustang GT-R's body retains 85 percent of the production car's body components that were stiffened by 30 percent as part of the Mustang's first full makeover ever. The only modifications include rear-mounted battery pods and a fuel cell relocated to the rear trunk.
Built at Saleen Special Vehicles in Troy, Michigan., the car was developed by the same members of the Ford GT Dream Team who are building sub-assemblies and painting body panels for Ford's first supercar.
The Mustang GT-R benefits from the 2005 Mustang's race-inspired chassis, developed and tuned by engineers with Ford Racing engineering experience or a passion for weekend track time. The Mustang's race-bred suspensions, near 50-50 weight distribution and ultra-stiff body structure, are just the beginning of Mustang GT-R's credentials.
"The GT-R is the ultimate expression of the Mustang platform," says Hau Thai-Tang, 2005 Mustang chief nameplate engineer. "Mustang spans more of the market than almost any other car - from an under-$20,000 V6 to a race-ready car in the $40,000 range. The Mustang GT-R shows how we can expand that unmatched reach with the all-new platform."
Soon after the 2005 Mustang's world reveal in January, race engineers quickly began building on its solid foundation. The Mustang GT-R concept's chassis was fully stripped down to the body shell to receive custom reinforcement and structural improvements for driver safety on the racetrack. A roll cage was added, along with a Sparco-brand racing seat with a five-point safety harness.
The production suspension geometry is retained, but key parts were replaced to reduce weight or provide additional strength for the rigors of racing. Suspension pieces, including the K-member, are made of lightweight chrome-moly tubing. The race-proven dampers are coil-over, fully adjustable units featuring remote reservoirs. A strut tower brace increases structural rigidity.
Rounding out the chassis package are huge, race-proven Brembo brakes. The front features 14.3-inch rotors with six-piston calipers; the rear has 13-inch rotors with four-piston calipers. Linking the whole package to the racetrack are 20-inch wheels and racing slicks provided by Pirelli. Tire sizes range from 275/35 in front to 305/30 in the rear.
Rocketsports Racing, Paul Gentilozzi and Tommy Kendall have been romping through the 2004 Trans Am series with their Jaguar R Performance XKR Trans Am racers.
Perhaps the current success of Jaguar North America and Gentilozzi has some Dearborn execs salivating. After a thirty-five year hiatus, we can only hope...
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