Ford Racing Marks 125 Years With Mustang GT3 Livery Honoring Sweepstakes

Ford Racing turns 125 this year, two years older than the company that carries its name. The milestone traces back to a single afternoon in 1901 when Henry Ford climbed into a two-seat machine he called Sweepstakes and set out to prove his ideas worked. On October 10 of that year, at a dusty track in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, Ford faced Alexander Winton, the established favorite. Sweepstakes managed speeds approaching 60 miles per hour. Its engine held together when others did not. Ford finished first. That result drew the investors who later helped him open Ford Motor Company in June 1903.

In 125 years since its founding, the company is sending a pair of factory-built Mustang GT3s to the arduous 10-hour Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. These cars will race in a livery reminiscent of their debut race car. For the first time in a long time, the famous blue-and-white color scheme has been replaced by a sleek black body with burgundy and gold accents. The colors were meticulously matched by referencing the original Sweepstakes and should appear well at home on the track. The early Ford Motor Company logo is displayed brightly in gold. “race since 1901,” the year of Ford’s first race fix, is proudly displayed on the hood. On the b-pillar is a tribute to Henry Ford, a name that will be known to everyone who knows anything about the automaker. The original wheel designs have also been reintroduced with a dash of crimson to give the car a vintage appearance.



The idea for this came about when Scott Bartlett, the guy in charge of road racing and product marketing for Ford Racing, was driving a vintage car to the Henry Ford Museum and noticed the Sweepstakes on exhibit next to him. The whole anniversary event hit him hard, and he saw an opportunity to make it all public in a single bold statement. Design teams brainstormed ideas, and the colors and visuals ultimately fell into place. Getting leadership on board was not as straightforward, as the design deviates from the typical industrial style with a dramatic black, gold, and burgundy scheme.


As soon as the sun sets, the cars shift dramatically. The well-known Glow Pony image on the back of the automobile illuminates, as it has done for years on Ford entrants. Inside that outline is a subtle but meaningful reference to the United States’ 250th anniversary: an American flag drawn in black and gold. In the end, Time Magazine selected Ford the most iconic American brand. Even in the darkest sections of the race, the flag makes that connection clear.


The drivers of the cars will wear racing outfits designed to resemble Henry Ford’s three-piece outfit from 1901. The company even brought out a backup set of events near the original Grosse Pointe location. A replica of the original Sweepstakes was displayed next to a modern GT3, providing the Ford personnel and cameras with an opportunity to get some fantastic photos of these two machines side by side. Ted Ryan, Ford’s legacy brand manager and archivist, was lucky enough to ride in the open-top Sweepstakes replica. He characterized the experience as both frighteningly exciting and thoroughly pleasurable. The Sweepstakes may have been swift for its day, but in comparison to the GT3, it feels like a toy. Ryan recalls that Henry Ford only raced once. After the short journey, he understands why..


The special livery is on two Mustang GT3s running in the GTD Pro class, with numbers 64 and 65 respectively. Chris Mies and Fred Vervisch, joined by newcomer Seb Priaulx, are fourth in the championship standings and have a mathematical chance of winning the title. Ford’s racing squad now ranks second in the manufacturer rankings. A strong performance at Petit Le Mans would be an excellent way for them to cap out the milestone year in style.