Ford is shuffling the GTD PRO driver line-up for the 2025 IMSA season

Ford Multimatic Motorsports will have a radically different driver lineup for the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, with only Mike Rockenfeller retained from the 2024 full-season lineup. Ford factory drivers Christopher Mies and Frederic Vervisch will pilot the No. 64 Ford Mustang GT3, while Multimatic driver Seb Priaulx, who scored two victories with AO Racing in GTD PRO in 2024, will join Rockenfeller in the No. 65.

“Racing drivers are the most important differentiator in the battle for success on the track,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports, in a blog post. “At Ford, our drivers are more than competitors; they are family. This sense of camaraderie makes decisions about our roster challenging and deeply personal. After closing out our debut IMSA season with the Mustang GT3 a month ago, the Ford Multimatic Motorsports team is focused on the 2025 season. This week we will be driving the traditional Daytona test ahead of the first major race in 2025 and introducing our driver line-up – a mix of experience, youth and exceptional talent.”

Mies and Vervisch were the endurance additions for Ford Multimatic Motorsports in 2024. They replace Joey Hand and Dirk Muller.

“It’s been a dream of mine to be in IMSA full-time,” said Mies. “I got a taste of the Mustang GT3 in this series during the endurance races and we had some good results. The dream is now a reality. I am looking forward to competing with Fred, whom I have known for a long time. We know the team and the car, so I’m excited to compete in this championship.”

Vervisch added: “It’s a great honor to drive the factory program in the No. 65 GT3 Ford Mustang. Ford and Multimatic Motorsports have put so much trust in me, which means a lot. I’ll do everything I can with Christopher and the whole team, to deliver results.”

Priaulx, who did half the season with AO Racing before being called away to fulfill his duties at Multimatic, takes Harry Tincknell’s place alongside Rockenfeller.

“Multimatic Motorsports has been my home since Larry gave me a chance in the Mustang during the 2019 season, so it’s nice to be back where I started in GT racing,” explained Priaulx. “I have experience competing in this championship and I think we will bring a strong package into the coming year.”

For the endurance races, Ford Multimatic Motorsports called on its WEC drivers. Dennis Olsen joins Mies and Vervisch, while Ben Barker rides with Rockenfeller and Priaulx.

Rushbrook offered appreciation to the drivers who helped develop the Mustang GT3 and raced it in its debut season.

“Race teams are always evolving to drive success forward, and this infusion of fresh talent will accelerate the performance of the Mustang GT3,” he said. “With these changes in the driver line-up, I wanted to talk about the drivers of the year: Joey Hand, Dirk Muller and Harry Tincknell. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Joey, Dirk and Harry for their invaluable contributions to the Mustang GT3’s journey. Their unmatched expertise has been essential to the development of the Mustang GT3, and the hours they’ve put in knocking around racetracks across the United States laid the foundation for this racing program. Joey and Dirk will always be special to Ford as they won Le Mans for us in 2016, and while they may not be in our IMSA squad this season, you certainly haven’t seen the last of them. In fact, you’ll be hearing more about Dirk’s latest endeavors soon.”

The Mustang GT3 had some problems in its first races, as the team discovered some problems driving with other cars that did not occur in testing. As the season progressed, the Mustang GT3 developed some pace and the No. 64 found the podium on a few occasions with Rockenfeller and Tincknell, possibly setting the tone for success in the car’s second season.

“I’m in my second year now with Ford Multimatic Motorsports after a great first year learning and developing the car,” said Rockenfeller. “A lot of work has been done by the team since then and we’re fast into 2025. We’re excited and motivated to go into the second season of this program with the Mustang GT3 and we’re hoping to get off to the right start foot at Daytona.”

Ford Multimatic Motorsports is one of the teams participating in the IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona International Speedway this weekend.