Ford will run four Ford GT cars in the Le Mans this year. This is an anniversary of sorts for Ford. The cars will compete at the Le Mans 50 years on from their historical 1, 2 and 3 finish in 1966. All four GTs will be running with team Ford Chip Ganassi Racing and will compete for GTE Pro class glory at the world’s greatest motor race, which takes place on June 18-19.
Yes. It was a historical win for Ford in 1966 where they took on the big boys (like Ferrari) and won. They were quite the underdogs then. They could be underdogs now as this time the entry by Ford was somewhat of a 'last minute' entry by Ford to commemorate the anniversary. Dave Pericak, Ford Performance global director, who attended this afternoon’s press conference in Paris said, “Newcomers are by no means guaranteed an entry, whatever their history or ambitions, so we thank the (organisers) ACO for giving Ford the opportunity for a four car assault in June.”
PRESS RELEASE
Four-car Le Mans Entry Accepted for Ford 50 Years on from Historic Victory
All four Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GTs will compete at Le Mans in June, 50
years on from 1-2-3 finish in 1966
The Ford GTs will run numbers 66, 67, 68 and 69
PARIS, FRANCE, Feb. 10, 2016 - The organisers of the Le Mans 24 Hours, the ACO
(Automobile Club de l’Ouest), today confirmed that all four Ford GTs have received a place
on the prestigious entry list for the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours.
Fifty years on from Ford’s famous 1-2-3 outright victory at Le Mans, all four Ford Chip
Ganassi Racing Ford GTs will compete for GTE Pro class glory at the world’s greatest motor
race, which takes place on June 18-19.
“It was great to see all four Ford GTs up there on the Le Mans entry list today,” said Dave
Pericak, Ford Performance global director, who attended this afternoon’s press conference
in Paris. “Newcomers are by no means guaranteed an entry, whatever their history or
ambitions, so we thank the ACO for giving Ford the opportunity for a four car assault in
June.”
The Ford GT racing car is based on the all-new Ford GT supercar, which is the pinnacle
product of the Ford Performance division. With state-of-the-art aerodynamics, lightweight
carbon fibre construction and a powerful and efficient Ford EcoBoost engine, the Ford GT
has been built to go head-to-head with the GT establishment – Ferrari, Corvette, Porsche
and Aston Martin – as they fight for victory in the ultimate endurance battle.
“I’m very happy that we can run all four Ford GTs at Le Mans,” said Chip Ganassi, owner of
Ford Chip Ganassi Racing. “It will be a big challenge for us but one we are thrilled to
undertake. We have prepared well and can't wait to get the Ford GTs onto the track there
and show everyone what they can do.”
The #66 and #67 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing cars that run in the FIA World Endurance
Championship will keep their race numbers for Le Mans. The two Ford GTs that run in the
IMSA WeatherTechSportsCar Championship will receive new race numbers just for Le
Mans: #66 becomes #68 and #67 becomes #69.
The configuration of the driver line-ups in the WEC cars will be announced at a later date,
along with the identities of the third drivers for all four Ford GTs at Le Mans.
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