Gradient Racing
Race Entry
About Gradient Racing
Gradient Racing is a customer team fielding the Ford Mustang GT3 in IMSA's GTD class. They are one of several customer teams picking up the Mustang GT3 platform as Ford's GT3 program grows beyond its factory entries — an important indicator that the car is both competitive and well-supported.
The relationship between customer teams and factory programs is a key dynamic in GT3 racing. When customer teams choose to race a manufacturer's GT3 car, they validate the product's competitiveness and support infrastructure. Gradient Racing's decision to field a Mustang GT3 reflects confidence in the platform and Ford's commitment to supporting customer racers.
The Car: Ford Mustang GT3
The Ford Mustang GT3 is unmistakably American in its approach to GT3 racing. Built by Multimatic and Ford, the car uses a supercharged V8 engine in a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout — the traditional pony car formula applied to modern GT3 technology. The result is a car that looks, sounds, and drives differently from its European competitors.
In the GTD class, the Mustang GT3 faces the same Balance of Performance adjustments as in GTD Pro, meaning its performance is equalized against Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and other competitors. The Gradient Racing #66 runs the same basic hardware as the factory Ford Multimatic #64 and #65 GTD Pro entries — proving that the best customer teams can extract similar performance from the same car.
The Mustang GT3 at Two Levels
Having the Mustang GT3 in both GTD Pro (factory program, #64 and #65) and GTD (Gradient Racing #66, among others) creates an interesting parallel storyline. The same American muscle car races at two levels of competition simultaneously at Sebring, with factory drivers in GTD Pro and a mix of professionals and gentleman drivers in GTD. Comparing their relative pace and outcomes provides insight into the car's capabilities across different driving standards.
Eric Walker (USA) is an American gentleman driver who makes the Gradient Racing program possible. His participation reflects GT racing's ethos of enabling passionate enthusiasts to compete at the professional level alongside career racers. Sebring demands genuine skill and commitment from all drivers, regardless of professional status.
Maximilian Bechtolsheimer (Great Britain) is a British amateur driver who has competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans — motorsport's most prestigious event. Racing at Le Mans requires months of preparation, formal entry process approval, and the ability to compete safely on fast French public roads in the dark. His Le Mans experience gives the Gradient lineup international credibility and track knowledge transferable to other demanding endurance venues.
Joey Hand (USA) is a veteran American racing driver with an unusual career spanning American GT championships and European racing. He competed in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) for BMW — Germany's elite touring car series — making him one of the few Americans to compete seriously in DTM. His European racing experience, combined with his IMSA knowledge, makes him an ideal professional partner for the Gradient GTD entry.
Ford in GTD and GTD Pro
The factory Ford Multimatic Motorsports entries in GTD Pro run car numbers #64 and #65. Multiple customer teams like Gradient also race the Mustang GT3 in GTD — showing the platform's breadth. See the factory Ford entries →
What is GTD?
GTD allows a mix of professional and gentleman drivers, celebrating the amateur racer tradition in endurance motorsport. Learn more →