Dearborn, Michigan - Courtesy of Ford Performance - There's no mistaking the wicked sound or aggressive looks of the all-new Shelby GT350R-C that Ford announced today would see its first official track time at Watkins Glen this weekend.

The Shelby GT350R-C, the competition version of the reincarnated icon, will compete in IMSA's Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, a showdown of the most popular - and accessible - performance cars from around the world.

The GT350R production car was unveiled in January, and is one of more than 12 new vehicles Ford Performance will bring to market through 2020. Since its introduction, sports car enthusiasts have eagerly awaited the debut of a racing version.

"Like so many Mustangs before it, the Shelby GT350R is a car born to race," said Dave Pericak, director, Global Ford Performance. "We're taking it to the track as the GT350R-C and we're ready to see what it can do against the best competition in the world."

Both the production and race car versions feature the first-ever production-car V8 from Ford with a flat-plane crankshaft. The unique crank layout - typically reserved for the world's most exotic sports cars - has helped create the most powerful naturally aspirated engine Ford has ever produced.

The new race car features an adapted version of the advanced, fully independent suspension from the GT350R, fitted with revised spring rates and antiroll bars, lower ride height, unique track-tuned alignment settings, revised bushings and cross-axis ball joints in the front.

Longtime Ford partner Multimatic Motorsports, who will manage the race team, returned to the Blue Oval in the series' Grand Sport division in 2014, piloting the Mustang Boss 302R with some of the most popular and talented drivers on its roster. The Multimatic squad will field drivers Billy Johnson, Scott Maxwell, Austin Cindric and Jade Buford for the GT350R-C debut at Watkins Glen.

"Ford is committed to the Continental Tire SportsCar Championship and we're happy to be campaigning its product here," said Larry Holt, team principal of Multimatic Motorsports. "We like the endurance format, and the racing is always intense. Strategy plays a big role; the cars must be fast and reliable, and there are always at least 10 contenders running door-to-door for two and a half hours. It is the perfect home for the GT350R-C."

"American muscle cars have a storied history in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, and we eagerly anticipate the start of a new chapter with the introduction of the Shelby GT350R," said IMSA President Scott Atherton. "The Mustang has earned 'icon' status through its racing heritage going back to the competition Mustangs of the 1960s, and this new race car will undoubtedly add to the legend."

For full technical details of production GT350R, please visit racing.ford.com.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Michigan, manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 189,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.

About Multimatic

Multimatic is a privately held Canadian corporation supplying components, systems and engineering services to the global automotive industry. The company is headquartered in Markham, Ontario, Canada, and has operating divisions in North America, Europe and Asia with partners in South America and Australia. Strength Through Technology is both a motto and operating philosophy for Multimatic, and the company's focus is on solving customer problems through its know-how as reflected in its products and services.