Mustang Cup coming to Australia

Australia will soon gain a one-make racing championship in the style of the Carrera Cup, with the ‘Mustang Cup Australia’ to make its debut in 2026. Expressions of interest are open for the all-new championship, which will be held over six rounds as part of the 2026 SRO SpeedSeries.

The new category, officially ratified by Motorsport Australia and the Australian Motor Racing Commission, will see drivers compete in identical, track-only Mustang Dark Horse R cars.

Promotion and management will be entrusted to Driving Solutions, an advanced driver training company led by James Stewart and Jo Higson, with Liam Curkpatrick appointed as the category manager. Driving Solutions’ experience includes supporting Ford Performance’s Finke Desert Race campaign.

"We are incredibly proud and excited to partner with Ford Performance to bring Mustang Cup Australia to life," said Stewart.

"The Mustang Dark Horse R is a spectacular race car, and we believe a one-make series featuring this machine will be a huge drawcard for Australian drivers and fans.

“Our aim is to build a professional, competitive and accessible series that provides a fantastic opportunity for young drivers to hone their skills, and for experienced drivers to enjoy racing a high-performance and market-relevant race car."

Derived from the Mustang Dark Horse road car, the Dark Horse R is a turnkey racer that’s said to offer impressive performance and durability straight out of the crate. Cameron McLeod recently demonstrated the car’s capabilities, winning two Mustang Challenge invitational races in support of this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.

"The Mustang Dark Horse R was designed to provide a thrilling, accessible, and competitive platform for drivers," said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Performance. "Seeing it embraced by our team in Australia and set to form a new national championship is fantastic.

“The success of Cameron McLeod showed the world what talented young drivers can do in this car, and bringing that level of competition to Australia is a vital addition to the global Mustang racing ecosystem."

Teams and drivers interested in competing in Mustang Cup Australia should go to: drivingsolutions.com.au or call 1300 183 700.