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FR500S
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LAS VEGAS, Oct. 30, 2007 – Building on the rich and successful racing history of Ford’s iconic pony car, Ford Racing Performance Group is giving customers an affordable way to go racing with the introduction of the all-new 2008 Mustang FR500S.
The FR500S will be the heart of a new Mustang spec series, the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup, which will make its debut on race tracks across North America in 2008.
The limited-edition FR500S is the first race car in Ford Motor Company’s history to be built at a production facility and then made available for racers to purchase through the Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog and at authorized Ford Racing dealers.
“There aren’t very many manufacturers that can say they build race cars right off of the production line, and we are very, very proud of this achievement,” said Dan Davis, director, Ford Racing Technology. “This new pony car gives customers and racers a chance to get into a high-performing vehicle that is durable, reliable and competitive.”
The 325-hp Ford Mustang FR500S was co-developed by Ford Racing and Miller Motorsports Park (MMP) in Tooele, Utah, and is based on the Mustang GT used by the track’s high-performance driving school. Powered by a 4.6-liter 3-valve, fuel-injected V8 production engine and featuring a Ford Racing cold-air intake, the FR500S includes a 6-speed transmission with an upgraded clutch and Ford Racing short-throw shifter. The FR500S features the same braking utilized on the FR500C along with unique two-way adjustable front dampers with coil springs and an adjustable anti-roll bar in both the front and rear suspension.
“The new Mustang FR500S is the result of Ford Racing working with Miller Motorsports Park, the Auto Alliance International production facility and everyone with Team Mustang to produce an affordable race car that is durable and lives up to the powerful reputation of the Mustang,” said Jamie Allison, manager, Ford Racing Performance Group. “We were able to use production racing parts out of our own catalog to ensure this car handles and performs with the power and aggressiveness the Mustang is known for.”
With the addition of the Mustang FR500S to its current stable of Mustang race cars, Ford Racing now provides customers a racing ladder – all within one manufacturer – to climb up through the ranks of professional racing. The Ford Racing ladder begins with the Ford Racing High Performance Driving School at Miller Motorsports Park featuring specially prepared school Mustangs.
The next step on the ladder is the Mustang FR500S, which is delivered as a race-ready vehicle complete with a racing seat and safety harnesses, and provides competitors with a base to hone their driving skills and an exciting year-long schedule to race against other semi-pro drivers.
FR500C
Moving further up the ladder puts racers behind the wheel of the Mustang FR500C, which competes in the Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series, and the FR500GT4, which competes in the GT4 European Cup Championship. Both Mustangs are proven winners with each car having won championships in its first year of competition.
FR500GT
At the top of the ladder sit both the Mustang FR500GT and FR500GT3, which represent the ultimate race-bred Mustang. The FR500GT is being homologated for Grand-Am Rolex GT and other applications, while the FR500GT3 has already competed in select FIA GT3 European Championship races and will be campaigned full-time in 2008.
Customers or competitors looking for more information on how to get behind the wheel of their own Mustang FR500S and to be a part of the new Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup should contact Miller Motorsports Park at (435) 277-8790, www.millercup.com, or visit www.fordracingparts.com/FR500.
August 11, 2007 Sparta, KY
What do you get when you mix Gene Simmons, Ashley Judd, and a bunch of IndyCar Series participants? You have a great time. A fine facility mixed with celebrities and great racing make for a fantastic Saturday evening for all. A race that had only 4 cautions, but still had plenty of action and even a few thrills and spills but ultimately was won by Tony Kanaan in the 7 Eleven car #11.
Tony Kanaan in the #11/Photo by: Jeff Kluss/SIT
Tony Kanaan on a Vespa in the pits.
Ahsley Judd otherwise known as Mrs. Franchitti in the pits.
Of course Dario Franchitti supplied the biggest surprise of all when he went airborne after the race had actually finished in his Canadian Club car. Poor communications, inattention….whatever you call it this was a costly error for the Andretti owned team. We are sure Ashley wasn’t too pleased with the last minute flying performance by her husband.
Gene Simmons talking it up with the media in the pits. Gene is a true racing hound that is classy and makes time for all fans including we in the media.
Of course on Friday they had the autograph signings by all the drivers in the garage area for the fans. And as you might guess, judging by the length of the lines Danica Patrick had everyone beat hands-down. Her line of fans was at a minimum 3 times that of anyone else. Amazing how she has attracted such a fan base with no wins but a lot of promise.
Danica Patrick and team owner Michael Andretti in the pits.
Danica composition showing her in the car prior to the race and on the track in her Motorola Car #7.
Danica was up to fourth on several occasions but late in the race had a problem with recognizing the caution and wrecked avoiding a pace car. She has some great ability, but for some reason can’t quite put it all together to get into the win column. Amazing though how this young lady is actually a major contributor to the coffers of Indycar Series via her fan base.
Helio Castroneves in the Penske #3 car
Tony Kanaan dedicated this win to his late father. “A special weekend for me,” said Kanaan, who recorded a series-leading fourth victory of the season. “He’s not around any more, so it is pretty touching. I’m glad that I got a win for him. (Aug. 12) is Father’s Day in Brazil. I’m a father-to-be, so my wife better give me a good gift.” Tony, congratulations from everyone at Sports Image Times and a big thank you for an exciting race.
Once again, we highly advise any of our readers to attend this great facility for any of their events. What a great bunch of folks that really know how to put an exciting weekend together.
Customer Mustangs Make European RACING debut; FR500C CAPTURES WIN IN INAUGURAL GT4 EVENT
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DEARBORN, Mich., May 10 – After successfully completing the homologation process for GT4 European Cup and FIA GT3 competition, the Mustang FR500C and Mustang FR500GT made their competition debuts this past weekend at Silverstone in Great Britain with the FR500C racing to victory.
The Multimatic-entered Mustang FR500C won the inaugural GT4 European Cup race on Sunday in the hands of driver Gunnar Jeannette, while a TopSpeed-entered FR500GT driven by Kenneth Heyer and Eric De Doncker finished 29th in GT3.
“We are very pleased that both of our Mustang race cars have completed the homologation process and now are officially in competition,” said Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology. “We’ve said from the start that this would be a customer program, and we believe both race cars will be very competitive in these series once the teams have time to work with them. To have the Mustang FR500C win its first race is just icing on the cake to the race weekend.”
Gunner Jeannette on the Podium at Silverstone
This victory marks the second time the FR500C has won its initial appearance in a professional racing series. The first came in the 2005 KONI Challenge Series (then known as Grand-Am Cup) season opener at Daytona International Speedway en route to capturing the series’ driver, team and manufacturer championships. This season, it has won all three KONI Challenge races and currently leads the driver, team and manufacturer standings.
The Mustang racing programs in Europe are strictly a customer-based venture, initiated by U.S.-based Ford Racing as an extension of its performance parts program. With the Ford Mustang only available for sale in North America, Ford’s European racing operations are aware of the program, however there is no involvement on its part.
For this effort, Ford Racing has once again partnered with Multimatic Motorsports, which assisted in the homologation process for both vehicles. Multimatic is the exclusive sales representative and distributor of homologated FR500GT and FR500C Mustangs for FIA GT3 and GT4 European Cup competition and is responsible for supplying spare parts and actively interfacing with teams and sanctioning bodies.
We at SIT would like to welcome Alfredo Saletti to our fine group of Sporting Correspondants and Photographers. Alfredo is from Brasil and will be reporting on the great events that happen in that hotbed of racing. We look forward to seeing many great racing articles and images from Alfredo in the South American arena of competitive motorsports and equine events. Also, be sure to check out his website to understand the incredible quality of imagery Alfredo will be supplying.
BARRETOS CITY - SÃO PAULO - BRASIL
Rinaldi Rally Prime
March 25, 2007
The drivers showed their talent on Sunday afternoon at Prólogo racecourse, Cowboy Park in Baretos City - SP – Brazil. There was a great show of high speed jumping during the Rinaldi Rally Super Prime. The motorcycles have started the show and the best times per class were, June Rochenbacha by Brazil; Munir Khalil by Cross; Roidman Munhoz by Marathon; Marco Antonio Pereira by Production; Roberto Naji Nahas by Quadriciclo and José Hélio Rodrigues Filho by Super Production. The general best time for the motorcycles was José Hélio Rodrigues Filho. José’s time was only one tenth of second better than the time of Juca Bala, and this heated competiton has caused great excitement for the public. Ingo Hoffmann and Lourival Roldan won the premium and the score, since they were the first in the car class and Amable Barrasa together Du Saches and Raphael Bettoni, had the best time in the truck class.
article by:
Alfredo Saletti N.
alfredofoto@grupoconfianca..com
www.alfredosaletti.com
correspondente:www.sportsimagetimes.com
