HyperFest is perhaps one of the most unique events on our calendar in 2026, and after taking on the weekend, we can verify that. Held annually at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia, it brings together on-road and off-road disciplines in one location for a weekend that covers just about every corner of car culture. This year, we showed up Ready To Rock™.
The Lineup
This year, we rolled into VIR with a full fleet ready to hit full throttle right off the trailer. On display and in action throughout the weekend were the Ford Mustang RTR camo car, the Ford Mustang RTR in black with the Hyper Lime package, a Bronco RTR ROVR, two Mustang RTR Spec 5-D demo cars, T-Pain's Mustang RTR Spec 5-D, the Mustang RTR Spec 3 in Leadfoot Gray, a Ford Bronco Raptor, and an F-150 Raptor.
Driver representation was equally stacked, with Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Ben Hobson handling drift duties while RTR Off-Road driver Bailey Campbell, alongside Chase Gentry, took charge of the off-road experience program.
Drifting at VIR
VIR's Patriot course is something special. Wide, flowing, and full of corners that beg to be linked together, it gave the Mustang RTR Spec 5-D exactly the kind of room it was built to thrive in.
Vaughn and Ben also ran tandems on the skid pad, put on ride-along sessions for fans, and took full advantage of the full course layout to string together some seriously impressive runs throughout the weekend.
The backie competition added another layer of fun to the mix, with Vaughn and Ben joining fellow drifters in taking their two best attempts at the crowd-pleasing move. Because at HyperFest, there's always room for a little extra.
T-Pain Joins in on the HyperFest Action
Joining in on the action, our good friend T-Pain and Nappy Boy Automotive brought out their Mustang RTR Spec 5-D, aka the “Pink Pony”. Equipped with a new audio system, T-Pain put on quite the show across the skid pad and patriot course.
Ford Mustang RTR Takes on All Challenges
HyperFest 2026 gave us the perfect opportunity to show what the Ford Mustang RTR is capable of in various disciplines. Vaughn took the camo car out on the skid pad and put on a show for the crowd, then jumped into the black Hyperlime model for grip laps around the track.
From drifting to road course, the Ford Mustang RTR handled everything thrown at it without missing a beat. Soon enough, we hope to see future Ford Mustang RTR owners doing the same!
RTR Off-Road Experience
While the Mustangs owned the pavement, the RTR-Equipped Ford F-150 Raptor and Bronco Raptor were busy on the Dirt World Off-Road Course. Bailey Campbell piloted the Bronco Raptor and Chase Gentry took the wheel of the F-150 Raptor, giving dozens of attendees a ride they won't soon forget.
Jump after jump, both trucks performed flawlessly and gave fans a genuine taste of what purpose-built off-road performance feels like from the passenger seat.
Vaughn and Ben had to get in on the action, too, naturally. Vaughn strapped in T-Pain for a ride along, who, in true T-Pain fashion, brought his laptop along to work on a new track mid-air. And Ben? Ben may have quietly walked away with the award for most airtime of the entire weekend.
See You at Carlisle
If you missed us at HyperFest, the tour is not slowing down. Our next stop is the Carlisle Ford Nationals in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, June 5-7. We’ll see you there!
