For starters, we estimated the GTD would ring in at around $300,000 when we got our first look. We were off by roughly a Ford Maverick Hybrid. Ford now says the GTD will begin “at approximately $325,000,” with production starting anywhere between late this year and early next. Matt Simpson, head of enthusiast vehicles, told MotorTrend that the company wants to build 300 to 700 GTDs per year, a number that seems ambitious. Very ambitious. That said, Ford is considering both a driving school and a one-make series for GTD owners, but nothing has been decided yet.

What does that $325k buy you? The homologation version of the Mustang GT3, with which Ford wants to take a class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford says it’ll pack more than 800 horsepower—far more than competition rules will allow its race car sibling to produce. Moreover, the transmission takes a short trip to the rear of the car, becoming a rear-mounted 8-speed transaxle. Handling is provided by exotic Multimatic DSSV spool-valve dampers wrapped in dual coil springs up front, and similar units in a transverse cantilever arrangement out back. There’s also an array of active aerodynamic elements for rapid changes between max downforce and minimum drag configurations. Don’t forget an advanced variable traction control system, too. Most of this stuff has been banned from competition, but the GTD has an unfair advantage: it doesn’t have to follow the rules.

Which rules, frankly. The GTD is basically the unvarnished daydream of a sports car engineering team, somehow given a green light by Ford boss Jim Farley.

So, other than money, what do you need to buy a GTD? Ford is interesting in knowing more about who you are and what you intend to do with the car before it’ll consider selling it to you. The application lists some broad owner categories to choose from, and each will drill down further with a seeming subtext that there’s a preference for those who will go out and be noticed—i.e., generate earned media for Ford—rather than those who see the GTD as a nice car-shaped investment.

Here are the specific categories:

I am/was a Ford Mustang® owner
I am active within the motorsport community
I own similar performance vehicles from other manufacturers
I own a Ford or Lincoln vehicle
I/my company engage with Ford ProTM (Fleet, Modifier, Upfitter, Converter)
I am a car collector
I consider myself an influencer of public opinion
I/my company use Ford vehicles related to charitable activities

Ford also wants to know more about your car collection, with the unspoken subtext that being a big demonstrable Blue Oval diehard might inch you up on the list. If you’re an influencer, Ford wants to know the extent of your reach and the specific ways in which you shape public opinion. So on, and so forth. The actual selection criteria aren’t, of course, disclosed, but this is a much more intensive vetting process than the typical preorder. As Ford tells us, it's a lot like the Ford GT ordering process, which was selective and was almost more like applying to be a “Ford brand ambassador” than a car owner.