Factory Firepower Rebuilt: Ford Realigns Star Drivers for 2026
In any form of motorsports, standing still means you’re moving backward. The blue-oval crew at Ford knows this better than anyone. As they gear up for the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Ford Multimatic Motorsports is shuffling the deck, proving that even a winning hand can be played better.
The six-driver powerhouse that pilots the mighty Nos. 64 and 65 Ford Mustang GT3s are back, but the playbook has a fresh set of formations. It’s a bold move, a calculated risk aimed at one thing: total domination in the GTD PRO class.
This isn’t just some corporate press release. Ford did it with style, letting driver Dennis Olsen, one of the heroes from their Rolex 24 at Daytona victory, tell the story himself. It’s a move that speaks volumes about the culture they’re building: a true driver-first, all-for-one Ford team.
A New Look for a Proven Winner
So, what’s the new battle plan? For the No. 64 Mustang, it’s all about fresh energy in the full-season campaign. Ben Barker and Dennis Olsen are stepping up from their endurance roles to take the wheel for the entire 10-race grind. These guys have proven their mettle when the stakes are highest, and now they get to chase the championship full-time.
Backing them up for the long hauls of the Michelin Endurance Cup is the seasoned veteran, Mike “Rocky” Rockenfeller. Having a driver of his caliber as your third man is like having an ace up your sleeve, a calming, strategic force when the race goes into the dark of night.Over in the No. 65 camp, the dynamic duo of Frederic Vervisch and Christopher Mies remains intact for the full season.
Their chemistry is undeniable, a partnership forged in the fires of competition that has already delivered spectacular results, including that coveted Daytona win. Joining them for the endurance classics is the young gun, Seb Priaulx, who makes the jump from the No. 64 car. Priaulx is a rising star, a talent who has clawed his way up from the Mustang GT4 program and carries the racing pedigree of his famous father, Andy. It’s a lineup that blends proven experience with raw, hungry talent.
Why Tinker with a Winning Formula?
Some might scratch their heads and ask, “If it isn’t broken, why fix it?” But that’s checkers thinking in a chess world. This isn’t about fixing something broken. It’s about optimizing for greatness. Ford Multimatic Motorsports isn’t just defending a title. They’re on the hunt for a dynasty. By realigning the driver pairings, they’re creating new partnerships and challenging their own aces to find another gear.
Olsen put it best. It’s about building on their success and having a roster where every single driver is a true championship contender. It’s about creating two cars, two distinct crews, that can push each other to the absolute limit, race after race. This is how you maximize the potential of a machine like the Mustang GT3. This is how you reward the hundreds of engineers and crew members who pour their lives into this project.
The 2026 season also marks the 125th anniversary of Ford Racing. There’s a sense of history in the air, a responsibility to carry that legacy forward. And what better way to honor it than by unleashing a refined, evolved Mustang GT3 on America’s greatest racetracks, piloted by a team hungry to prove they are the best? The goal is clear: win their home series, dominate the market where the Mustang was born, and add another chapter to the legend.
Final Thoughts
As the team prepares for the Roar Before the Rolex 24 and the grueling Rolex 24 at Daytona, there’s a quiet confidence brewing. They have the machinery. They have the strategy. And most importantly, they have the right people in the right seats. It’s a story of ambition, family, and the relentless pursuit of the checkered flag. The target is set, the pieces are in place, and the entire motorsports world will be watching to see if this realigned Ford can once again conquer Daytona and, ultimately, the championship.
