I drove a new high-performance version of the Ford Mustang GT on a race track — here’s what it was like (F)

Mustang’s with V8 engines are some of the absolute best deals in high-performance motoring currently available. The GT with the Performance Pack Level 2 adds just what a racer wants: grip, grip, and more grip.

The track at the Monticello Motor Club was damp when I drove it, but even then I could feel the locked-down stability of the GT’s combination of tire, aero, and suspension. You really attack and turn fast laps in a car this powerful if you can forget about taxing the rear end and having to compensate for oversteer.

The Mustang GT’s partnering of horsepower and torque means that you can tackle a course with limited long straights in third gear; you won’t lack for oomph when you need it, and you won’t threaten the redline on the tachometer, which sits at 7500 rpm. In practice, I could focus on steering, braking, and throttle rather that worrying about hitting my shifts or matching engine revs. This is something I always enjoy.

The Performance Pack Level 2 adds a few grand to the Mustang GT’s price tag, but the carmaker says that’s to continually maintain the relevance of the platform, which is now over 50 years old. For a track-obsessed owners, this package is definitely worth checking out.