The S650 Ford Mustang is set to compete in various motorsport disciplines worldwide, from NASCAR to Le Mans, and now it is entering the world of Formula Drift, too, with Vaughn Gittin Jr. at the wheel of a 1,300-hp example. The professional drifter has already shown how easy it is to slide the Mustang, even in EcoBoost form, but he and his teammates need a bit more oomph to compete with the world's best. Details on the exact upgrades made to the S650 have been kept mostly secret, but Ford has revealed that the Spec-5 FD cars - three of which have been developed - produce 1,300 hp.

There has also been significant weight loss, and new suspension components have been developed for maximum steering angle.

"We took the badass styling, technology, and overall progression of the all-new Mustang as inspiration to develop our new Mustang RTRs for Formula Drift," said Gittin Jr. "The result is the best looking and best performing Mustang RTRs that we have ever created, and they are so fun to drive."

Gittin Jr. will be accompanied by Chelsea DeNofa, Adam LZ, and three-time Formula Drift champion James Deane. Presumably, each drifter will compete in a unique livery; Gittin Jr.'s features imagery inspired by photographs from the James Webb Space Telescope.

As well as announcing Gittin Jr.'s return to the sport after a year-long absence, Ford also used the reveal of the FD Mustangs to draw attention to the novel electronic drift brake on the new Mustang, which is available as part of the optional Performance Pack on both manual and automatic S650 Mustangs, whether they have the V8 or the four-pot. Sadly, that pack doesn't give you the same 1,300 ponies that the pros have, but getting the new 'Stang sideways should still be very easy.

If you'd rather watch the experts do it, the Long Beach leg of the Formula Drift series takes place April 7-8, with six more events before the final leg in Irwindale on October 13-14.