Vervisch: Build-Up Phase Biggest Task for Miedecke/MPC

Photo: Gruppe C Photography/SRO

Fred Vervisch believes the biggest challenge for the Ford Mustang GT3 EVO’s Suzuka debut will be putting all of the “new” pieces in place, although he and co-drivers Chris Mies and Dennis Olsen are confident in the experience they’re bringing to the program.

The Ford Racing factory trio, who won the 2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona together in the GTD Pro class, will reunite for this weekend’s Suzuka 1000km with Miedecke Motorsport By Team MPC, which is set for its first race outing with the Multimatic-built car.

With the Melbourne-based outfit not able to test with the car, which was shipped directly to Japan and built up in the paddock, there will be a number of new elements to overcome according to Vervisch.

“It’s a new team, it’s a new [chassis]. Everything we’re bringing there, we didn’t see each other, so there’s no real preparation like you’d like to have,” he told Sportscar365.

“I think that’s our biggest challenge. The Ford Mustang is a very reliable car technically, so that’s a very good base, I would say.

“They now, back in Europe, have some more experience on the Pirelli.

“There’s experience from other teams in Europe. We have experience from years ago but I think that will be more challenging than the conditions itself.

“The hotter it is, the better it is because then it’s also hard for the others and expected, and then we can maybe overcome… the preparation we’re a bit behind maybe that can help us.

“I would like to have difficult conditions, weather and rain and all these things, because we have a very good A/C. I remember with the other brand it was not so good.”

Vervisch, who along with Mies have previously driven for, and in Mies’ case, won championships with the Troy Russell-led Melbourne Performance Centre squad, said the case of shipping a brand-new car to the track without any form of team shakedown, is not a new process.

“We’ve had it in the past with other brands where the car was shipped to Australia,” he said.

“It’s not easy, right? But they do a great job at Multimatic when they make the car, it’s a very good car when it’s there.

“So that should be no problem. But there could be many small things. But we have Dennis, who we call our ‘engineer’ as well, and I think it will be a big help to help out with some small things.

“Of course we also know things too.

“It will be a big challenge, 100 percent, but we have a good foundation and then we’ll see how we’ll get on after that.”

While Vervisch returns to the event for the first time since being part of the winning squad in 2019, when it was then a ten-hour race, and both he and Mies teaming up for a fourth place result the previous year, also in an Audi, the two Ford drivers feel confident on their chances.

“We’re here to at least be on the podium, or win,” said Mies. “It’s a long race, it’s an endurance race, we need to see how good we get ourselves into a groove as a team.

“We’ve known the team since many, many years. We’ve raced with them, so that’s not an issue. It’s more about that they understand the car because it’s quite different to the [Audi].

“Obviously with the other brand being there last year and doing well, I think our base is very good and it’s all about if we can bring it all together, how quickly we can adapt as drivers to the Pirelli tire, etc.

“It’s different rules as well, safety car, Full Course Yellow, so we need to understand and learn quickly and then everything is possible.”

Mies: IGTC the Perfect ‘Addition’ to Full Season IMSA Program

While all three drivers primary program is in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Mies feels there’s been benefits by contesting Intercontinental GT Challenge races when they don’t clash.

“As a driver, the more races you do, the better it is, until a certain amount,” he said. “If it becomes too much, then you’re quite exhausted.

“For us our main priority is obviously IMSA but if we can add some cool races, which I think IGTC has in their calendar, with Bathurst, Nürburgring, Spa, Suzuka and Indy, I think that’s a perfect [set] of additional races.

“If you then also add another championship somewhere else in the world, I think it’s getting too much then, like a full championship.

“But if you can have those special, cool races added to your IMSA program, I think it only helps us as drivers and also we learn new things, we get to meet new people. That’s pretty good.”

Source: Sports Car 365