RTR Vehicles and Misha Charoudin of Vulcan Alpha Collaborate on Mustang RTR Spec 5 Time Attack Build

[RTR Vehicles]

RTR Vehicles has partnered with motorsport driver and Nürburgring personality Misha Charoudin, along with his performance aerodynamics engineering company Vulcan Alpha, to bring a new evolution of the Mustang RTR Spec 5 to life—one that pushes RTR’s proven performance DNA into the world of road racing and time attack competition.

Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Misha have known each other for over 15 years, having crossed paths throughout Europe’s automotive and motorsport communities. When Vaughn Gittin Jr. visited the Nürburgring to drift the iconic circuit, Misha played a key role in coordination and shared his deep knowledge of the track. The two have long held mutual respect, and when Misha reached out with his goals of building a Mustang for track duties, it aligned with RTR's interest in expanding RTR’s presence in grip racing; the collaboration came naturally. Their shared passion for innovation and performance quickly evolved into a clear vision: transforming a Mustang RTR Spec 5 into a purpose-built time attack machine. We are excited to introduce the Mustang RTR Spec 5-TA.


The Story Behind Misha’s Mustang RTR Spec 5-TA
Misha’s Mustang RTR Spec 5-TA is equipped with an array of components engineered for power, precision, and presence. Under the hood, the 870+ horsepower Whipple Stage 2 Supercharger System with a heavy-duty race intercooler transforms the S650 chassis into a true powerhouse, complemented by the RTR by BORLA Active Exhaust System for an unmistakable sound. The exterior features RTR’s composite Widebody System and exposed carbon fiber elements, including fenders, rocker splitters, wake towers, and bumper extensions, all crafted for aerodynamic balance and aggressive styling. Supporting this foundation is the RTR Tactical Performance Coilover Suspension and Sway Bars, paired with forged 20-inch Aero 5 Evo wheels for maximum grip and control.

Visually, the Spec 5-TA wears a bespoke livery inspired by “Speed on the Nürburgring.” Designed to capture the feeling of cutting through the forest air, it blends RTR’s brand colors to reflect the track’s motion and intensity. Red speed-blocking flows along the body into a dark gray base, while Hyper Lime accents highlight carbon fiber components, symbolizing sparks in the car’s wake and emphasizing its performance-driven character.

All components were shipped from the RTR Lab in Concord, North Carolina, to Unitesta in the Czech Republic, RTR’s premier European upfit center. Unitesta completed the assembly, calibration, and track alignment in close collaboration with RTR engineers, marking one of the first Mustang RTR Spec 5 builds completed in Europe.

From Concept to Track: Watch Misha Charoudin’s Mustang RTR Spec 5-TA in Action
This collaboration marks an exciting step in RTR’s mission to expand its vehicle capabilities and compete on the global stage of motorsports road racing, complementing its deep roots in drifting and off-road performance. The story of this partnership and the beginning of the Mustang’s transformation are captured in a new video featuring Misha Charoudin as he drives the Mustang RTR Spec 5-TA at Autodrom Most and offers a glimpse of what’s to come.

“RTR is, of course, very well known for drifting, given our global success in that sport for over two decades. But the reality is that the experience and passions inside the walls at RTR are incredibly diverse. The ethos of Ready to Rock is about being ready for anything, and our production Spec line of Mustangs embodies exactly that. We’re very excited to show another side of RTR Vehicles’ capability to the world through this collaboration with who we feel is the perfect candidate to bring our style of fun, motorsport-focused entertainment, and competition to the time attack stage.

I’ve always had a lot of respect for Misha—not just for his driving ability and the fun he brings behind the wheel, but for his passion, understanding of vehicle dynamics, and desire to push everything to the limit,” said Vaughn Gittin Jr., President and Founder of RTR Vehicles. “Collaborating with him and the aero experts at Vulcan Alpha allows us to demonstrate what our vehicles can do on the world stage in a way that is authentically RTR. We’re pumped to evolve the Mustang RTR Spec 5-TA transparently with our amazing community.”

“Working with Vaughn and the RTR team has been a dream collaboration,” said Misha Charoudin, Founder of Vulcan Alpha. “Both RTR and Vulcan Alpha share the same core goals: performance, aesthetics, and singularity. Together, we’re taking the Mustang platform to a new level of grip racing and track day performance while staying true to the spirit of both RTR and Vulcan Alpha.”

The Road Ahead
This collaboration represents more than just a single build; it is the beginning of a new chapter for RTR as it enters competitive road racing and time attack events in the near future. Fans and enthusiasts are encouraged to stay tuned as this machine transforms into an unlimited track monster, showcasing what is possible when innovation, passion, and performance come together.

As development continues, RTR Vehicles and Vulcan Alpha will combine their expertise to push the limits of the Mustang RTR Spec 5-TA. RTR brings its deep knowledge of Mustang engineering, chassis dynamics, and vehicle integration, while Vulcan Alpha contributes advanced aerodynamic design. Together, the teams will continue evolving the Spec 5-TA into an unrestricted track weapon, fine-tuning every element for maximum speed, balance, and endurance. To stay up to date on all Mustang RTR Spec 5-TA news visit us at https://www.rtrvehicles.com/blogs/news.

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[Junkyard Dog]

Exciting stuff to watch.

Any idea what Unitesta actually did to lower the horsepower to 650 for the sake of endurance? They did not say what they did on the videos, just that they did it.

 

[RTR Vehicles]

Exciting stuff to watch.

Any idea what Unitesta actually did to lower the horsepower to 650 for the sake of endurance? They did not say what they did on the videos, just that they did it.

Hey guys, glad you’re liking the project. We’re fired up to keep pushing it forward. The EU-spec Mustangs naturally make a bit less power than the US cars, mostly because of the additional emissions equipment like the GPF. The power level we’re running leaves some room for the knock sensor to do its job under hard driving, which is exactly where we want to be for this first EU-spec Mustang with real racing duties.


We’re learning a ton in this first iteration and doing a lot of logging. The plan is to keep evolving this Spec 5-TA program with Misha as we go, and with that evolution will come more power.

 

[needforspeedirl]

Exciting stuff to watch.

Any idea what Unitesta actually did to lower the horsepower to 650 for the sake of endurance? They did not say what they did on the videos, just that they did it.

Probably a 4” or 4.25” pulley swap kit.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

Probably a 4” or 4.25” pulley swap kit.

4.25" will not fit. There is physically not enough space. I confirmed this with Whipple directly. 4" will fit but still produces 10 psi, as compared to roughly 11 psi with the 3.875 (Stage 1) or 12 psi with the 3.75" (Stage 2).

 

[MCS]

I think RTR needs to do this in Canada as well... In fact, I know a white Dark Horse that is already boosted with a FP Stage 1 that they can use as a test platform.

Business Justification: Test the different elevation and air density of Canadian Air against European (Misha) and US (RTR HQ) samples.

Is that enough to sell it? ;)

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