Events: The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Track Tour
Last week, the Cartrast team was invited to Sonoma Raceway to sample the Mustang Shelby GT500, the most powerful street-legal Ford ever. Sporting a 5.2-liter supercharged V-8 putting out 760 horsepower, the GT500 is intended to be the ultimate Mustang, providing performance and handling comparable to much more exotic and expensive vehicles. With a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, the GT500 is capable of mid-3-second launches from 0 to 60 miles per hour and doing quarter-mile times under 11 seconds. We got to experience the GT500 for ourselves by doing laps around the racetrack and riding shotgun on the dragstrip.
When we arrived at the paddock of Sonoma Raceway, we were greeted by a tented display of both the newest Mustang and older Shelby Mustang prototypes. Among the new Mustangs were a GT500 with the Carbon Fiber Track Package, a new Mach 1, a Mustang EcoBoost with the High Performance Package, and a Shelby GT350 Heritage Edition. Front and center in the tent were two Shelby test cars, once nicknamed the “Green Hornet” and the other called “Little Red,” used to develop the original GT500, both of which on loan from Craig Jackson.
The original Shelby development Mustangs
First, we were taken through a tour of the components of the GT500 needed for it to be such an effective performance vehicle. With a cutaway model and a wind tunnel test car with 3D-printed components bolted onto it, attendees were able to get a better idea of the development that went into the GT500. Supplier representatives from TREMEC, Michelin, and Recaro were onsite to emphasize the amount of work that went into making the new GT500 the ultimate Mustang. After that, people were shown the line lock feature of the GT500, enabling them to do controlled burnouts without the chance becoming YouTube fodder.
Once we got onto the track, we got a better idea of what the GT500 would be like to drive. Any concerns about not having a manual transmission were put to rest within the first three corners of the track during a lead-follow session. As a very powerful front-engine rear-drive car, it’s incredibly easy to break the rear tires free if the throttle is applied very quickly out of a sharp turn. With Sonoma being a technical racetrack with constant elevation changes, the GT500 was nimble through the corners while providing its prodigious power out of them when needed.
After the laps around the track, we were passengers with an instructor showcasing us just how much speed can be thrown into the corners in the latest GT500 iteration. As the cars were sampling had the Carbon Fiber Handling package bringing 20-inch carbon fiber wheels (with 0.5-inch-wider rear wheels), custom Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, adjustable exposed carbon fiber GT4 track wing, and splitter wickers with integrated dive plane. The back seat was removed to save weight as part of the package.
Overall, the GT500 will be a popular car and accepted among Mustang enthusiasts. The EcoBoost will be the already fast starter Mustang, the GT and Bullitt the essence of the Mustang, the GT350 will be the enthusiast Mustang, while the GT500 expresses the ultimate take of the Mustang. Many of them may be bemoaning the lack of availability of a third pedal, but after experiencing the sheer performance of the car, they might not be complaining for long. Especially after a long track day, doing smokey burnouts in front of a crowd, and going into the 10s at the dragstrip.
