OREANDA-NEWS. June 11, 2015. Members of the U.S. military got the rare opportunity to take a test drive of the Ford F-150 and Mustang today at Germany’s Hockenheimring race track.

The Ford Driving Freedom ride-and-drive event is designed to introduce the new 2015 Ford Mustang and F-150 to military personnel who are stationed on U.S. bases across Europe. It’s the first time such an event has been held overseas, and Doug Walczak, Fleet sales manager, Emerging Market Services, says it reinforces the company’s commitment to U.S. military personnel around the world. “We’re excited to provide this unique opportunity to men and women serving in the military. They make many sacrifices on our behalf, and we wanted to give them an opportunity to leave base and experience something fun while they are serving their country.”

The Hockenheimring track is home to the German Grand Prix and was selected both because of its history and its central location. Customers from U.S. bases across Europe were invited to participate, along with 125 winners of a contest sponsored by the Overseas Military Sales Corporation (OMSC), the only on-base, factory-authorized Ford Motor Company distributor to military personnel. Walczak says the contest, which drew 300 entries, is an example of the community events OMSC holds to boost the morale of the troops and showcase Ford products.

“Ford has worked with OMSC since 1995 to offer Ford and Lincoln vehicles for sale in more than 30 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia and on select Navy ships,” says Walczak. “Service personnel can order vehicles for use where they are stationed or place an order overseas and pick it up at a dealership when they return home.”

The ride-and-drive program is a pilot and could serve as a template for future product launches.

In addition to the ride-and-drive, military personnel will hear a presentation on the Mustang and F-150 and receive product information, as will OMSC sales representatives invited to attend a separate training session to be held the same day. The trucks used in the ride-and-drive, and others on display, are among the first F-150s on the ground in Europe.

OMSC was the leading Mustang retailer in the world in 2014, while the F-150 is the most popular vehicle for members of the military according to a survey by USAA, a financial services company serving military personnel and their families.