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In the world of sports car racing, stories of reunion are rarely as compelling as this. But, almost five years after last slipping behind the wheel of a Ford, Sebastian Priaulx is back. And, he's making it count.
Once a promising prospect in the Blue Oval’s stable, Priaulx’s path took him elsewhere for a time, but in 2025, the British driver returned to Ford machinery with Multimatic Motorsports and hasn’t missed a beat.
Now, as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship rolls into WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, a place where Priaulx tasted victory just last season, the 24-year-old finds himself not just back in familiar colours but firmly in the hunt.
Few drivers have had a more quietly impressive campaign than Priaulx. Teaming with veteran Mike Rockenfeller in the #64 Ford Mustang GT3, Priaulx joined Rockenfeller on pole position in the GTD Pro class at Daytona.
Over the grueling 24-hour marathon, they held their own against the category’s elite, securing a podium finish with third in class alongside NASCAR star Austin Cindric. That performance not only set the tone for their season but sent a clear message: Priaulx was back, and the Mustang was ready to fight.
'I love being back in the Ford family,' Priaulx told Only Endurance.
'I’ve said it once before, but it’s a great place to be. I started off there. Multimatic and Ford gave me a great chance when I was a kid. I’m still young, but yeah.
'It was a great start. From my side, I felt like I made my sporting career there; it’s where I started. I did a lot in other manufacturers as well, you know, one manufacturer there for a while, but it’s great to be back in the Mustang.'
Since then, consistency has been the name of the game. A fifth-place finish at Sebring followed, and while the results haven’t included another podium, the duo has quietly racked up enough points to sit fourth in the GTD Pro championship standings. They're now just 36 points behind the leading No. 65 Ford Mustang GT3, driven by their Multimatic teammates.
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'I’ve had two really good races; unfortunately, I didn’t get the big win at Daytona, but the team did, and that’s great. It’s a team effort at the end of the day; that’s all that matters.
'We did a good job at Sebring; that’s a tough track again for us. That was just salvaging points, and I think we did everything we could.'
The story writes itself: the return to Ford, the return to form, and now, a return to Laguna Seca, a circuit that already holds special memories for Priaulx.
Just last year, driving for AO Racing, he stormed to a thrilling victory with his championship rival this year, Laurin Heinrich.
The win wasn’t just a feather in the cap; it was a career-defining performance, a validation of the speed and poise he’s long possessed.
Priaulx’s journey hasn’t been without twists. After first emerging as a standout in Ford’s development pipeline, he stepped away from the marque after the 2020 season.
Stints with other teams helped broaden his skillset, and in 2024 he took two wins in IMSA, proving his adaptability and raw pace were as sharp as ever.
That momentum carried into 2025, and now, reunited with a brand he knows intimately, he’s pushing for something more than personal redemption, chasing a championship that he missed out on in 2024.
Racing alongside Mike Rockenfeller, a multi-time Le Mans winner and one of the most experienced drivers in the paddock, has created a formidable partnership.
Their blend of youth and experience has produced a steady stream of results, even when the Ford Mustang GT3 was still finding its footing. The chemistry between the two drivers has been one of the team’s strongest assets, and with each passing round, their challenge grows more potent.
'Having been teammates with [Mike] Rockenfeller, he’s a legend. A role model from my side, I look up to him. He’s a great driver, a great person to be around, and he’s done a lot in the sport.
'I listen to every word he says. He’s very experienced; what he says, he reminds me a lot of my father, actually. Same era, and he’s done a lot. It’s a dream come true of mine to race with him, and we’re going to have a great year this year. Together, I feel like we can definitely have a good run at the championship.'
What makes Priaulx’s current run all the more impressive is how he’s embraced the pressure of his return to the Ford program. In a class filled with factory-backed operations and razor-thin margins, his performances have been measured, aggressive when needed, and always professional.
As the series heads to Laguna Seca this weekend, Priaulx returns to a track that favors rear-engine cars, much like his Mustang. With the #64 Mustang gaining momentum and the top of the standings well within reach, this could be the weekend that vaults Priaulx and Rockenfeller from contenders to favourites.
Feature image: Kevin Dejewski
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