Photo : Michel JAMIN - ACO/Nikon

The 2010 running of the Le Mans 24 Hours was one of the most exciting ever competed, and one of the great emotions of the Le Mans week was the presence of the Ford GT, reminding of the legendary GT40, the Le Mans winner in 1968 and 1969.

The three Ford GTs showed a great potential in La Sarthe under the banner of Matech Compétition and Marc VDS Racing Team, after they took the full LMGT1 podium at the Spa 1000kms last May. The ACO announced the end of the LMGT1 class on June 10, but a new version of Matech's Ford will compete in endurance racing next year. “After meetings with the ACO and our technical partners, the highly successful FIA GT1 specification Matech Ford GT1 will be adapted to the new regulations,” states Matech Concepts President Martin Bartek. “Every component has been designed and tested for 24 hour racing and will be highly competitive against the established GT cars. I’m very excited that the Ford GT will continue to race at Le Mans where it truly belongs.” So a limited series of 10 Matech Ford LMGTs eligible for the 2011 Le Mans-labelled series will be manufactured and delivered to customers by the end of this year at the estimated unitary price of €500,000.

This announcement was welcomed with great enthusiasm by ACO Sporting Director Vincent Beaumesnil: “Many people I spoke with at Le Mans last month said how wonderful it was to see the Ford GTs running again on the most famous track, and I have to agree. It’s great news for the Le Mans Series and great news for the fans that the Ford GT will continue to race as an endurance car.”

2010 definitely is a great summer for the legendary Ford GT, with three Le Mans entries last June, the overall win by the GT40 in Grid 4 at the Le Mans Classic two weeks ago, and the forthcoming entry of the Ford LMGT next year.

Jean-Philippe Doret