The Ford Shelby GT350R-C arrives to prove it has plenty more to give on track

Not long ago we published an article in which Ford Shelby GT350R increased the power of its engines to offer as much versatility as possible and become a more effective and powerful car than it already is. Now, the company with the blue oval presents the version designed for competition, with major changes to make it far more formidable against its rivals.

The Ford Shelby GT350R-C will debut at the 2015 IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, together with Ford’s partner, Multimatic Motorsports. For this first event, the drivers will rely on the 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine, the same one fitted to the base model. Ford has not announced whether the engine has the same power as that version or whether it has been modified in any way. If it is the same, it delivers 529 CV and 581 Nm. What it has announced concerns the rest of the mechanicals.

It will feature a competition-optimised sequential gearbox, brakes that improve on those fitted to the base version, and a cabin that has undergone several changes to be safer during the event. It also has independent, reinforced suspension. The height of the model has been lowered compared with the Shelby GT350R, aimed at improving its performance on the circuit.

As for its physical appearance, the Ford Shelby GT350R-C does not vary much. The rear wing and splitter, along with other elements, remain, which leads us to suspect that all the changes are located beneath the bodywork. This means the model was already conceived from the outset to be a worthy competitor on the circuit and requires few changes to be effective in the race.

We only have one image of the Shelby GT350R-C and we assume that there will be no further information about it until after its participation in the competition. Do you like this version of the muscle car?