When the 92nd running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans took place on 15–16 June 2024 at the Circuit de la Sarthe, it introduced the LMGT3 category as the direct successor to GTE-Am. Among the new-class entries was the No. 77 Proton Competition Ford Mustang GT3, crewed by Ben Barker, Zacharie Robichon and Ryan Hardwick — a genuinely international trio representing Britain, Canada and the United States. IXO Models has translated that car into a 1:18 scale model in die-cast metal, bringing one of 2024's most significant GT entries to the display cabinet.
The Ford Mustang GT3 is built on the S650 seventh-generation Mustang platform, converted to FIA GT3 regulations by Multimatic Motorsports in collaboration with Ford Performance. At its heart sits a 5.0-litre naturally aspirated Coyote V8 in GT3 specification — making it one of the very few naturally aspirated cars competing on the GT3 grid in 2024, in a field otherwise dominated by turbocharged machinery. That engineering identity gives the Mustang GT3 a distinct character among its LMGT3 rivals, from the Ferrari 296 GT3 to the Porsche 911 GT3-R.
Proton Competition's Pivot: From Stuttgart to Dearborn
Proton Competition is a German privateer outfit with deep roots in Porsche endurance racing, making their 2024 switch to the Ford Mustang GT3 one of the more striking team transitions of the WEC season. Running No. 77 at Le Mans 2024, the team fielded Ryan Hardwick — an American gentleman driver and wine entrepreneur who had raced with Proton Competition across multiple seasons — alongside Canadian professional Zacharie Robichon and British endurance specialist Ben Barker. The entry competed in the LMGT3 class, which replaced the former GTE-Am category for the first time at the 92nd Le Mans.
IXO Models: Die-Cast in 1:18
IXO Models is a manufacturer with an extensive motorsport catalogue spanning 1:18, 1:43 and further scales, and their 1:18 scale model of the No. 77 Proton Competition Ford Mustang GT3 is produced in die-cast metal. The replica reproduces the car's dark Proton Competition livery as it appeared at Le Mans 2024, with team and sponsor graphics across the bodywork. Die-cast construction at this scale allows for faithful surface detail on the Mustang GT3's wide-body GT3 aero package, including the front splitter, rear wing and side sills developed for FIA GT3 homologation.
In the Collection: LMGT3 and Le Mans 2024
This model sits naturally alongside other LMGT3 entries from the 2024 Le Mans grid, or within a broader Ford endurance racing display tracing the marque's Le Mans history. It also pairs well with the No. 78 Proton Competition Mustang GT3 sister car from the same race, fielded by Jan Heylen, Alessio Picariello and Come Ledogar. For collectors focused on team histories, it provides a direct visual contrast with any Proton Competition Porsche 911 RSR from the GTE-Am era — making the team's 2024 transition tangible on the shelf.
