Randy Pobst is ‘In Love’ With the 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500

By John Coyle - January 4, 2021

After some wheel time, the famed racer and test driver couldn’t say enough good things about the Shelby GT500.

It’s safe to say the Mustang has come a long way. When it was introduced in the 1960s, as a fun scene in Ford v Ferrari illustrates, the mechanical underpinnings really didn’t match the sport exterior lines. Then Carroll Shelby got ahold of it, and the rest, as they say, is history. But over the past few years, we’ve seen a dramatic leap forward regarding the capabilities of the original Pony car. No longer is it just a straight line bruiser — but a proper sports car that’s ready to go out and challenge the world’s best.

And while I’m obviously a Mustang fan, you don’t have to take it from me, because that’s the opinion that venerated racer and driver Randy Pobst expressed post track time at Laguna Seca, after taking the 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 for a rip around the famous circuit. The laps were done for Motor Trend’s always entertaining Best Driver’s Car feature, and in the video, Pobst is effusive in his praise for the latest edition of the famous snake.

While you should definitely watch the video below, to experience Pobst’s enthusiasm for Mustang, this quote should give you an idea of just how thrilled he was with the performance:

God, that thing pins you to the seat running from corner to corner. It hooks up very, very well. That impresses me tremendously. Ford Performance has done a terrific job of setting up that chassis to put down power. I’m in love with the car.

That said, as fast as this baby is around the track, it’s also not for amateurs, as he also makes clear. Cue the Spiderman quote:

You got to have that egg between your foot and the gas pedal in the middle of the corner and just roll on the power. And if you do that, it transfers weight and just hooks up. It’s possible to spin up the back tires in second gear, third, and fourth, but if you’re just a little careful, it hooks up.

Notably, while there were many impressive things about the way that the Mustang performed on the notoriously demanding track, one of the components he specifically called out were the brakes. And while they’re just steel Brembos, not crazy expensive ceramic units like, say, the Ferrari Ferrari F8 Tributo on hand was sporting, they proved amazing in this application.

Now, I have to admit I was a little deflated to learn that the GT350, and its flat-plane crank Voodoo V8 were on the way out the door. And I was also a little bummed — though not surprised — to learn that the latest GT500 would only be available with a DCT. But if this is the result, you can call me a believer. I promise I’ll never complain about a car not having a stick again. Actually, that’s a total lie, but I think you get my point.

As it is every year, the competitors in the paddock for Motor Trend’s annual Best Driver’s Car award is a formidable bunch. For 2020, the participants included heavy hitters like the previously mentioned Ferrari F8, the Corvette C8, the Porsche 911 Turbo S, and the Lamborghini Huracán Evo. Getting to evaluate all this incredible hardware on the street and on the track is the stuff that dreams are made of, and it’s always a blast to read.

So after you watch the clip below, head over to Motor Trend and check out the full breakdown of how everything did, you just might be surprised who came out on top…

Photos: Motor Trend via YouTube