One British auto reviewer learns why Americans are so lucky to be able to drive the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R.
In the past, American automotive enthusiasts have been denied access to certain models. These days, a lot of cars once unavailable to U.S. buyers, such as the Ford Focus RS, are now in dealerships and ready to be driven – legally – on American streets.
Luckily, we’ve never been denied access to high-performance Mustangs, such as the Shelby GT350R. People in the UK, on the other hand, are not so fortunate. They can’t buy the track-focused version of the S550 Mustang. Ford was kind enough to send one across the pond for Car Throttle to test on the challenging, high-speed Thruxton Circuit.
It’s an unusual experience for CT’s Alex Kersten, but his comments about the 526-horsepower mega-Mustang are to be expected. He praises the Shelby for feeling planted and even comfortable on the track. Kersten points out how light – thanks to the deletion of its rear seats and AC and radio, and the addition of carbon fiber wheels – and lively the Shelby is. He falls in love with the power and torque from its naturally aspirated, flat-plane-crank 5.2-liter V8.
During his time with the GT350R, Kersten repeatedly gushes over how terrific the sound from its quad exhaust tips is. He may enjoy the handling and the output, but it’s clear what he loves about the Shelby the most. Even though there’s more to the GT350R than just its sound, it’s hard to blame him. We drove the GT350R last year and were just as intoxicated by the snarl and furious roar that exploded out of its pipes.
Kersten finishes his review by doing what many people in this country get to do with their Shelby Mustangs whenever they want to: smoky burnouts. His time with the GT350R may have been limited, but he made it count.
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Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
