FORD MUSTANG GT4 POWERS TO SEBRING POLE
& CHECKERED FLAG
Sebring, Fla. March 20, 2017 – The No. 60 Ford Mustang GT4 won its first checkered flag for KohR Motorsport in only its second race in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge Series at Sebring International Raceway.
The KohR Motorsports car started from the pole position, after Jade Buford recorded a lap time of 2:11.610 to take the pole on Friday. The No. 59 sister-car of Jack Roush Jr.* and Dean Martin earned a third place qualifying position.
After winning the pole, Buford said “Our goal is to lead the race from the start and be leading it at the end.” The No. 60 won the GS class and overall race to achieve Ford’s 50th Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge win.
Buford took the first stint and with just over an hour to go Maxwell jumped in the Ford Mustang GT4 to take over the second stint. A late caution in the race with only 10 minutes, re-stacked the field. At the restart, Maxwell was able to leverage the horsepower of the Mustang 5.2L engine to take over the lead and the checkered flag.
“The car ran flawlessly and the strategy was perfect,” Maxwell said. “It feels good to get the first win for the Ford Mustang GT4. We were so close at Daytona, and in my mind, Sebring is just as special. It was a good win for KohR and Ford Performance and NanoProMT and we earned it.”
“Congratulations Jade, Scott and KohR Motorsports,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “What an accomplishment to win at Sebring, just one race after debuting in Daytona!”
In the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Series, the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing (FCGR) team of Ryan Briscoe*/Richard Westbrook/Scott Dixon also won the pole with Briscoe laying down a 1:55.939 lap time in the No. 67, just edging out the No. 66 sister car of Joey Hand*/Dirk Müller/Sébastien Bourdais. The third Ford GT, from FCGR – UK team of Stefan Mücke*/Olivier Pla/Billy Johnson in the No. 68 started the race in P6.
The three Ford GT cars ran strong the entire race, all taking a turn leading the twelve hour endurance race. The No. 66 took a second podium position with teammates in the No. 67 finishing just off the podium in P4 and the No. 68 in P5.
The Fords will take this momentum as the Ford GTs go out west to Long Beach.