Looks like I'll get to see it at Daytona for it's first race " Ford Returning to Le Mans with Chip Ganassi Racing: Ford announced it is returning to one of the most prestigious automobile races in the world with its new Ford GT race car, based on the all-new ultra-high-performance supercar that goes on sale next year. The Ford GT race car will compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans - referred to by many as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency - starting next year. Ford GT will compete in the Le Mans GT Endurance class for professional teams and drivers (LM GTE Pro). The new race car is based on the all-new Ford GT supercar unveiled in January. Both the production car and race car will arrive in 2016 to mark the 50th anniversary of Ford GT race cars placing 1-2-3 at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford went on to repeat its victory at Le Mans in 1967, 1968 and 1969. The new Ford GT race car will run the full 2016 schedules of the FIA World Endurance Championship and TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, making its competition debut in January 2016 in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Florida. The two Ford teams will be operated by Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS). Both series teams intend to compete with a four-car effort at Le Mans. Drivers will be announced later. Joining Ford in this project are Multimatic Motorsports, Roush Yates Engines, Castrol, Michelin, Forza Motorsport, Sparco, Brembo and CGRFS.(Ford)(6-12-2015) "
Funny video - catch the prancing horse at the end? Only complaint - it looks like a GTA video game rather than a real GT, probably could have used better CGI...minor quibble. What does bug me is that I grew up a Chevy fan, and while there's plenty of good stuff, Ford always seemed so much cooler. Whether 427 SOHC dragsters, Indy, NASCAR, sports cars, whatever...just cool. This is one more very cool move IMHO.
A Pinto at LeMans....great. Will we be spending another 150 million just because an Italian gentlemen ruffled someones feathers?
The new FORD GT is the cover and feature car for the upcoming Forza 6 xbox one racing game. I too noticed that some of the shots particularly around the 1:31 mark looks like it was from a video game and most likely considering the partnership between Ford and Forza 6. In other news I just got off the phone with Daytona and renewed my ticket for the 2016 Rolex 24. I'll have some pictures of that FORD Bad Boy to post here starting with the Roar before the 24
I'm ridiculously excited by them racing again at Le Mans. 2016 will be the year many won't be focusing on LMP1 and instead Ford and who dares to race them. Should be great.
Here are some live photos. From the article: Ford unveiled the new car today at the Circuit de la Sarthe on the occasion of this years race. This new GT car will race in the Le Mans GT Endurance class and not the top LMP1 category. 5 pictures and in the gallery . Image Unavailable, Please Login
A pretty blatant stick to the eye of Ferrari to include the black horse at the end. The video is a bit misleading in a way in that it took Ford three years to win at Le Mans with the original GT40s, spending untold sums (IE: gobs) of money with the Ford racing division accountable to no one (evidently) as Henry Ford II's obsession with beating Ferrari took precedence over any sort of business sense. So, with a virtual unlimited checkbook, Shelby & Ford eventually won Le Mans overall ending Ferrari's reign. Good for Ford and American racing but it came at a huge cost as Ford sent out cars to test and race that were by no means ready costing the life of Ken Miles using materials that by today's standards would be considered insane. Times have changed of course, the way cars are constructed are completely different, the business of racing has evolved more into being a rolling commercial dog & pony show and Ford has entered into a very competitive category with not only World Champion Ferrari but Aston Martin, Porsche and Corvette usually covered by less than a second in qualifying at WEC events. For the Ganassi team, things may prove to be a bit different running in Europe vs. having things handed to him in the U.S. as has been the custom in GrandAm and TUSC, no "Lucky Dog" or "Competition Yellows" at Le Mans Chip ol' boy. It will be interesting to watch how this project evolves. BHW
Ford decided with "Total Performance" that they were going all out with racing. They did and won EVERYTHING. F1, LeMans, INDY, NASCAR, NHRA,etc. Its a feat never done before or since by any manufacturer. They don't need to apologize for their recent ad(poking fun at Ferrari) to Maranello or anyone else for that manner. Ford has a motorsports history second to no one, beginning with their 999 Racer that began winning races in 1902. As to the "huge cost" they paid to destroy Ferrari at LeMans, I'd hardly say Enzo's hands were any cleaner during those days, nor his relative financial commitment any less. At least Ford's program provided stunning results-something the Toyota cash juggernaut of today has yet to achieve. I say good on them and wish them the best of luck.
