Marketing and Sponsorship

The Ford Racing Mustang Challenge is one of the newest professional road racing series in North America. It features the Mustang FR500S, a car specifically built by Ford Racing for use exclusively in the Mustang Challenge. The series’ inaugural year in 2008 proved to be a huge success, showcasing talented drivers in thrilling race events throughout the U.S. and Canada. 2009 promises to be even more exciting.

The Mustang Challenge offers close competition among drivers piloting identical cars prepared by the Ford Racing factory. This makes it a true drivers’ series, which provides unique opportunities for companies and brands interested in taking advantage of a personality-driven series for marketing initiatives. As a whole, the Mustang Challenge has shown remarkable growth, delivering fully-subscribed fields of 20 or more cars in its inaugural year, with race coverage delivered on HD Theater.

The series travels to most major markets in North America, delivering solid fan impressions at every event. 2009 marks the 45th anniversary of the Mustang, an achievement which will be commemorated at the Barber Motorsports Park event in Alabama, complete with a massive meeting of the Mustang Club of America.

What kind of benefits can an organization derive from motorsport sponsorship?

• Racing events offer unique B2B and B2C opportunities to connect with consumers and business partners.
• The opportunity to put a brand in a vibrant and exciting environment that is remarkably focused and free of clutter.
• The brand can be involved in a high-energy sport that highlights teamwork, technical innovation, performance and glamour.
• Customized promotional incentives and promotional opportunities.
• Display, sampling and hospitality offerings.
• Motorsport offers a place to promote a brand and build business that is well outside the sphere of traditional advertising that includes exceptional earned media opportunities.

Why use motorsport over other kinds of sponsorship?

• An ease of activation not available in any other sport.
• Motorsport fans are the most loyal in all of sport, and support sponsors via their buying behavior.
• Allows a brand to become an integral part of the action; the opportunity to build an emotional connection with consumers and business partners.
• Motorsport, especially single-marque series like the Mustang Challenge, offer prestige to a brand.
• Proximity to racers and getting behind the scenes; access to the “cult of personality”.

Join a growing list of strong Corporate and Event Partners

Strong, proven brands that work together: Ford Racing and BFGoodrich as technical suppliers and lead series sponsors. Grand-Am Road Racing is the sanctioning body, which operates professional series including the Rolex Sports Car Series, KONI Sports Car Challenge, Ferrari Challenge, Moto-GT and AMA motorcycle races. Miller Motorsports Park and it’s Miller Performance Training Center comprise one of the premier racing facilities in North America, and HD Theater provides high-quality television programming to discerning viewers nation wide.

Mustang Challenge races run on event weekends with highly-promotable groups of pro racing series. This makes for an exciting environment for fans and sponsors to interact.  It showcases aspiring drivers who want to move up the pro ranks. Series include Rolex Sports Car Series, KONI Sports Car Challenge, Atlantic Championships, Star Mazda, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, SPEED World Challenge, Canadian Touring Car Championship, F2000 Championship, Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup, Mazda MX-5 Cup and others.

Download a copy of our Sponsor Presentation