Shortly after the introduction of the new Mustang, Ford Performance revealed its race versions of the American sports car, with the GT3 for the main class and a new GT4 for competition customers. The GT4 version of the iconic American car has already been racing in many overseas races by private teams and will make its debut at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit during the last weekend of June, as a preview to the Crowdstrike 24 Hours of Spa.
TeamFloral with Vanspringel
The fruitful collaboration between TeamFloral and Ford, M-Sport, and Ford Performance began in the late ’80s. The West Flemish team was the perfect choice as the preferred partner of Ford Performance to introduce the Mustang GT4 in the paddocks on the old continent. The team was last involved in circuit races in the early years of the Fiesta Sprint Cup. It was during this time that TeamFloral connected with other Ford drivers, namely the Vanspringel family, who ran the Vanspringel Automobiles concession in Waver.
Their youngest son, Nathan Vanspringel, achieved impressive times and delivered strong performances along the way. In 2019, he won the Fiesta Sprint Cup, stood on the podium multiple times, and secured a notable victory during the 2023 12 Hours of Spa with Team VDS’s Mustang. This success led TeamFloral and Team Vanspringel to join forces and compete with the GT4.
Patrick Vanspringel expressed, “This adventure started early last year thanks to Stéphane Lémeret, who informed me that a Mustang GT4 from Multimatic was available. We had a positive experience with the Fiesta Sprint Cup program, but we didn’t feel ready for GT4. We knew that TeamFloral was also working on a GT4 program and looking for a partner, so our paths crossed. The similarities between our two companies are significant. Our concession and TeamFloral have faithfully operated under the Ford label for decades. Vanspringel Automobile remains loyal to Ford and wants to showcase the brand in both its commercial activities and sports competitions.”
Nathan Vanspringel will be behind the wheel of the first European Mustang GT4. He shared, “A new challenge awaits me at the European level, with the most important GT4 championship in the world, featuring many strong young drivers and factory teams. I am thrilled to start this adventure under the Ford banner as a Belgian driver at our favorite circuit. We are ambitious, but we must remain realistic since we have not yet driven a single lap with the car.”
Premier Championship
The GT4 European Series championship is one of the toughest races on the global motorsport calendar, with high-level, diverse lineups where the new Ford Mustang GT4 will effortlessly showcase itself as a Muscle Car. The American Mustang GT4 was developed in close collaboration with Multimatic, Ford’s partner in the development of the Mustang GT3, and still boasts a five-liter V8 under the hood.
Each championship meeting consists of two 60-minute races, with mandatory pit stops during each race. TeamFloral-Vanspringel will participate in the championship starting from Spa and will also race in Hockenheim, Monza, and Jeddah. Ultimately, they aim to compete in all GT4 European Series races in 2025, with two cars. Nathan Vanspringel will drive the entire season, and the name of a second driver will be confirmed soon.
The Race Before the Race
Jean-Marc Valckenaere, the man in charge at TeamFloral, expressed, “Our longstanding partnership with Ford Performance has always yielded positive results. We want to continue on that path. Working with Ford Performance feels like reconnecting with a childhood friend. It’s immediately comfortable. We can’t wait for the car to arrive so we can take it for its first kilometers. The engagement and motivation from the teams of Ford Performance and Multimatic have brought a tangible healthy competition within our structure. We aim to translate that positive energy onto the track as soon as possible.”
However, before TeamFloral-Vanspringel can hit the track at Spa on June 28 and 29 for its first race on the twisty circuit, they must tackle the challenge of preparing and debugging the car.