Why Ford is Expanding its Racing Schools for Mustangs, SUVs and Trucks

A huge part of owning a high-performance vehicle is having the opportunity to take it out and see what it will really do. Ford will soon release a 760 horsepower 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 and fans are waiting for the chance to run it as fast as it will go. The same is true for its higher horsepower Ford Edge ST and the new 2020 Ford Explorer ST, that is projected to have 400 horsepower and a top speed of 143 MPH.

In response to owner demand, Ford is expanding its Ford Performance Racing School offerings. First, Ford Performance is reorganizing school operations.

Ford Performance School East

If you are feeling the need for speed and want to take your Ford Mustang on a real track, Ford Performance Racing School East will now handle all pavement and track-based programs at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Charlotte has a new infield road course. Charlotte Motor Speedway will begin hosting GT350 Track Attack and ST Octane Academy programs in the spring.

Ford Performance School West

From now on all off-road programs will be based as their newly revamped Ford Performance Racing School West, in Tooele, Utah. Ford has even built a new facility at the Tooele location just to house the off-road programs. The 45,000-square-foot headquarters building will include offices, classrooms, a vehicle maintenance area and vehicle storage. The Tooele school will capitalize on its high desert environment and mountain trails to deliver Ford’s popular Raptor Assault program. It will include a dedicated off-road course designed to showcase the capabilities of F-150 Raptor and serve as a training ground for Michelin/BFGoodrich.

Ford recently started a ST SUV Experience Program for Edge ST owners in Park City, Utah. They will now expand the ST SUV Experience to include the all-new 2020 Ford Explorer ST. Ford Performance is also adding another location for the ST SUV Experience. It will also be offered at a satellite location of the Ford Performance School East in Asheville, North Carolina.

“Our Ford, Michelin and retail programs have grown so much that we are expanding our operations from the single location we’ve known since the school opened in 2006 to two new locations – Ford Performance Racing School East and Ford Performance Racing School West,” said Dan McKeever, president, Ford Performance Racing School. “There’s a growing desire for performance driving experiences and we’re now able to better deliver that with these two new driving school locations”

Ford Performance says the sheer size of the facility at the Charlotte Motor Speedway gives them the ability to do more and offer more programs at the Concorde track. “The new infield road course, the oval itself, the zMAX dragway with its unique four-vehicle-wide configuration, plus the many buildings on-site provide Ford Performance Racing School East with unmatched opportunity to conduct a wide variety of owner programs as well as retail high-performance driving instruction. GT350 Track Attack and ST Octane Academy programs, as well as retail school programs, are scheduled to be on track in spring 2020.”

ST SUV Experience

The ST SUV Experience is a complimentary program offered to buyers of the Edge ST. It will also be offered to the buyers of the all-new 2020 Ford Explorer ST. The School is designed to show off all the vehicles features while handling the roads outside Park City, Utah. The new school in Asheville, N.C., will operate out of the iconic Biltmore Estate. The new SUV buyers will have their choice of where they want to attend.

“We are excited about the evolution of the Ford Performance Racing School,” said Rob Johnston, Ford Performance marketing manager. “It’s proven to be a hit with our owners and we are excited about the growth. Partnering with Charlotte Motor Speedway as well as having a dedicated facility for our off-road programs will ensure our owners have the appropriate locations to safely explore the capabilities of their new vehicles.”

See you in our next story discussing how Ford makes buying the 2020 Explorer and Edge more appealing through a special experience.

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