THE TALE OF THE THR3E BROTHERS

THE MUSTANG GTD MEETS TWO OF ITS MOST ATHLETIC SIBLINGS FOR A PLAYDATE AT THE TRACK.

- MATT FARAH

THINK OF A FAMILY OF ATHLETIC BROTHERS.

All three clearly are of the same DNA, though spending time with them reveals discernible differences in style and ability. Such is the case with these three variants of Ford Mustang. All chafe against a knuckle-dragging dumb-muscle stereotype and the expectation that they might be good enough for Trans-Am racing but aren't on a level with the European machines that lend their silhouettes to international sports-car competition.

In truth, Mustangs have been fabulous track cars for some time. But Ford left a lot on the table with the standard GT. Tweaking just a few components from the factory spec can bring out unbelievable performance from the versatile chassis.

Replace the shocks and springs, change the brake pads and fluid, and swap in new tires, and you're lapping close to Porsche 911 GT3s.

But I'm not here to talk about tuning a common Mustang. This is about Ford conceiving a family of world-class track-ready Mustangs, and the three here are built to completely different sets of parameters. One hews closely to the more standard roadgoing Mustangs, another is the quickest-lapping street-legal Mustang of all time, and the third is a full-bore GT3 race car designed to win championships. And I get to tell this story by spending an entire day driving them around Chuckwalla Valley Raceway.

A. (Previous pages) From left, the Mustang GTD, GT3, and Dark Horse R share a familiar face.

B. Chuckwalla Valley Raceway is about 75 miles east of Palm Springs, in the aptly named Desert Center, California.

C. It's a good day when a racing hauler and a support crew are at your disposal.