An all-Australian partnership between Miedecke Motorsport and Melbourne Performance Centre will represent Ford Racing at next month’s Suzuka 1000, with a factory-backed Ford Mustang GT3 to make its debut at the Japanese circuit.
The new partnership will compete under the Miedecke Motorsport by Team MPC banner, with Ford factory drivers Christopher Mies, Frédéric Vervisch and Dennis Olsen sharing the Mustang GT3.
The entry will feature Ford Racing’s latest Evo performance package, giving the Australian operation a significant weapon as it takes on some of the world’s leading GT3 teams in Round 4 of the Intercontinental GT Challenge.
Miedecke Motorsport CEO Andrew Miedecke emphasised this is a fantastic opportunity for an all-Australian effort to compete in one of the world’s great sports car races.
“It’s been great to grow our partnership with Team MPC this year. We share space at their Melbourne workshop and with our links to Ford, this partnership was the perfect fit,” Miedecke said.
“We all feel very grateful to be entrusted by Ford Racing to field their official factory entry at Suzuka.
“The line-up of drivers is terrific too. Ford goes racing to win, and that’s our intention.”
The collaboration has been facilitated by Miedecke Motorsport’s longstanding relationship with Ford and Multimatic, the official constructor of Ford Racing’s GT3, GT4 and Mustang Cup race cars. Miedecke Motorsport is the Australasian agent for Multimatic.
The two organisations have also developed a close working relationship during the 2026 Monochrome GT4 Series, with Miedecke Motorsport relocating its expanded Mustang GT4 program to Team MPC’s Melbourne workshop.
“This is a exciting project for our team and we are really looking forward to heading to Japan to represent Ford at the Suzuka 1000,” Melbourne Performance Centre Director Troy Russell said.
“We’ve worked closely with Miedecke Motorsport, and this deal is an extension of the partnership that has worked really well this year.
“This is one of the world’s most revered sports car races, and we feel that we have all the right ingredients to give it a real shake.
“Chris (Mies) and Frédéric (Vervisch) have raced with our team in the past, so we know we have a great roster of drivers and we really can’t wait to get over there.”
That relationship will now extend to the international stage, with Team MPC responsible for the operation and logistics of the Suzuka program.
Its regular team of engineers, mechanics and management will oversee the Mustang throughout the event.
Team MPC is one of Australia’s most successful GT3 operations, having claimed 10 Pro-Am GT World Challenge Australia titles, while Mies and Vervisch also bring previous experience racing with the team.
The Mustang being fielded by Miedecke Motorsport by Team MPC is the chassis originally brought to Australia last year, which remained idle following its purchase.
Ford Racing has since reacquired the car and equipped it with the complete suite of Evo updates before returning it to the Australian operation for its Suzuka campaign.
The Suzuka 1000 will be held from 11-14 September, with the race forming part of the fourth round of this year’s Intercontinental GT Challenge.
It will mark the first competitive appearance for the Ford Mustang GT3 at Suzuka.
First held in 1966, the Suzuka 1000 joined the Intercontinental GT Challenge in 2017 as a 10-hour race before returning to its traditional 1000 format in 2025.
The Mustang recently departed Miedecke Motorsport and Team MPC’s Melbourne workshop for Japan, with the Australian operation now preparing for its international GT3 debut.
Australian fans will be able to watch the Suzuka 1000 live on Kayo, while international viewers can follow the action via GT World Challenge’s YouTube channel.
