AF Corse led both series before their 'home' race, but now the gaps have widened. In the Le Mans Series

Global automotive icon Ford made its mark on the 24 Hours of Le Mans through innovation, audacity and unforgettable triumphs. Here is a brief look at a saga built on passion and the spirit of competition.

<p>Though Ford was on the scene in&nbsp;the first years of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, it&nbsp;was only indirectly involved in the race. Charles Montier, a French car dealer nicknamed &quot;The Wizard,&quot;&nbsp;fielded&nbsp;modified&nbsp;Ford Ts called&nbsp;Montier Specials, but they didn&#39;t exactly make a splash.&nbsp;In 1937, a Ford TEN GB made its debut under the British flag&nbsp;with Australian driver Joan Richmond at the wheel,&nbsp;finishing&nbsp;14th&nbsp;overall..</p>

<p>After World War II,&nbsp;the American marque functioned&nbsp;primarily as an engine supplier, but the success of General Motors&#39;&nbsp;Corvette compelled&nbsp;Henry Ford II to go on the&nbsp;offensive. Carroll Shelby, a former driver turned car developer, played a critical&nbsp;role in the effort. In 1963, two&nbsp;AC Cobras powered by Ford V8s took the start in the 24 Hours but were easily dominated by&nbsp;Ferrari who finished in&nbsp;the top six spots.</p>

<h2>The Birth of the GT40 in 1964</h2>

<p>Ford invested heavily to compete with Ferrari, buying Lola and hiring British engineer John Wyer. Enter the&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/24-hours-centenary-the-american-benchmark-ford-gt40-57263" target="_blank">Ford GT40</a></strong>&nbsp;in 1964 at&nbsp;an intimidating height of&nbsp;40.5 inches. Despite gearbox problems in 1964 and 1965, the Shelby-led program progressed with a 7-litre engine&nbsp;in the Ford MKII..</p>

<p>The time for revenge finally arrived&nbsp;in 1966. Ferrari failed to&nbsp;find its rhythm, paving the way for&nbsp;Ford&#39;s&nbsp;three&nbsp;MKIIs to conquer the podium. The finish was a stunner: McLaren and&nbsp;Amon in the #2&nbsp;Ford winning on the back of a&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/le-mans-66-what-really-happened-55729" target="_blank">controversial&nbsp;end-of-race strategy</a></strong>&nbsp;with only 20 metres separating it from the #1.</p>

<p>Despite the American constructor officially withdrawing in 1968, the&nbsp;Ford GT40 enjoyed continued success thanks to John Wyer. That year, the duo Rodr&iacute;guez-Bianchi won the carmaker a third victory. In 1969, <strong><a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/24-hours-of-le-mans-six-things-you-need-to-know-about-jacky-ickx-54520" target="_blank">Jacky Ickx made&nbsp;history by winning after a walking start</a></strong>, refusing to run to his car. It remains to this day one of the most iconic performances in the history of the race.</p>

<h2>A Class Win 50 years Later</h2>

<p>In celebration of the&nbsp;50th&nbsp;anniversary of its legendary 1966 victory, Ford made its big&nbsp;return to the 24 Hours in 2016 with the new Ford GT. Entered in the&nbsp;LMGTE Pro class, the&nbsp;#68 shared by&nbsp;Joey Hand, Dirk M&uuml;ller and&nbsp;S&eacute;bastien Bourdais clinched a decisive win, a fitting hommage to the&nbsp;marque&#39;s history, demonstrating its capacity to innovate and surmount modern endurance racing challenges.</p>

<p>Ford, through&nbsp;determination and ability, redefined&nbsp;standards at Le&nbsp;Mans. The legacy&nbsp;of the&nbsp;GT40 and its undeniable success&nbsp;continue to inspire&nbsp;generations of&nbsp;drivers, and&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/ford-in-the-top-class-at-the-24-hours-of-le-mans-in-2027-59293" target="_blank">the American manufacturer will make its highly anticipated return to the race in the&nbsp;Hypercar class&nbsp;in 2027</a></strong>. Could a new duel with Ferrari 60 years later be on the programme?</p>

Ford's legendary legacy at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

On the heels of a promising debut in 2024, the Ford Mustang LMGT3 is gearing up for its second season in the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC). Fielded by Proton Competition, the two American muscle cars are expected to rise higher in the LMGT3 ranks despite fierce competition. With a revamped team and intensive preparation throughout the winter, the Mustang GT3 will aim to hold its own among the very best in the category.

<p>Unleashed into competition last year, the&nbsp;Ford Mustang LMGT3 quickly became a fan favourite, in no small part thanks to its&nbsp;5.4-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine and street tough design. At the 2024&nbsp;24 Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans, German team&nbsp;Proton Competition, having joined&nbsp;forces with Ford after a long&nbsp;collaboration with&nbsp;Porsche, clinched a&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/a-podium-finish-for-the-ford-mustang-gt3-on-its-debut-at-the-2024-24-hours-of-le-mans-58867" target="_blank">podium finish with the&nbsp;#88 of&nbsp;Giorgio Roda/Mikkel Pedersen/Dennis Olsen</a></strong>. The #88&nbsp;finished&nbsp;13th&nbsp;and&nbsp;the #77 finished 17th in&nbsp;the 2024 FIA&nbsp;Endurance LMGT3 Teams Trophy classification.</p>

<h2>2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona Win</h2>

<p>Ford Performance and&nbsp;Multimatic made the most of the winter break to fine-tune the&nbsp;Mustang GT3. The team reached the top step on the&nbsp;GTD Pro podium at the 2025 Rolex&nbsp;24 at Daytona, the season-opener of the North American endurance racing championship, the IMSA. Modifications&nbsp;made to the car are already bearing fruit and bode well for top notch&nbsp;performances in the upcoming FIA&nbsp;WEC.&nbsp;Proton Competition will capitalise on those improvements to take on Aston Martin, BMW, Corvette, Ferrari, Lexus, <strong><a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/mercedes-amg-set-to-join-lmgt3-class-at-24-hours-of-le-mans-and-in-fia-wec-59151" target="_blank">Mercedes-AMG</a></strong>, McLaren and&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/check-out-the-liveries-for-the-manthey-racing-and-iron-dames-porsches-59287" target="_blank">Porsche</a></strong>.</p>

<p>Set to take the wheel of a Mustang LMGT3&nbsp;for the 2025 season is a decidedly confident&nbsp;<strong>Dennis Olsen:</strong> <em>&quot;We have already seen, at Daytona, that we&#39;ve made a lot of progress through the winter. I hope we can make the best of that for this championship. We have a new line-up with Proton Competition this year, along with the new liveries. The cars are looking great, and we&#39;re looking forward to getting back. We placed third at Le Mans last year, so I want to do two better. I want to win it. We&#39;ll go all in.&quot;</em></p>

<h2>Driver Line-Ups Retained</h2>

<p>For the&nbsp;2025 calendar, Proton Competition decided to retool its driver line-ups to maximise the Mustang GT3&#39;s potential. The&nbsp;#77 will be driven by&nbsp;Ben Tuck/Bernardo Sousa/Ben Barker. The latter&nbsp;is hoping to exploit the progress made during the 2024 season. <strong>Ben Barker:</strong> <em>&quot;I am really excited to continue the journey with Proton into the 2025 season of the WEC. It will be the second season with the Mustang GT3, and I&nbsp;think we have a great chance to convert all our learnings into great results.&quot;</em>&nbsp;Tuck, after&nbsp;one participation in the&nbsp;24 Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans with the team last year, is seeking to stand out as a key member of the trio. Lastly, Portuguese former rally champion Sousa is aiming to kick off his career&nbsp;in the FIA&nbsp;WEC with gusto.</p>

<p>In the&nbsp;#88, Olsen will be joined by Italian driver and FIA WEC rookie&nbsp;(after competing in the IMSA) Giammarco Levorato, and Steffano Gattuso is realising his dream of hitting the track in the FIA&nbsp;WEC.</p>

<h2>Ramped Up Ambitions</h2>

<p>Thanks to technical advancements, better understanding of the car and overhauled driver line-ups, the&nbsp;Ford Mustang LMGT3s of&nbsp;Proton Competition are approaching 2025 with lofty ambitions. The goal is clear: become a major player in LMGT3 and fight to win the&nbsp;24 Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans.</p>

<p>Though the competition is high caliber, Ford proved at Daytona&nbsp;the&nbsp;Mustang GT3 has reached a new&nbsp;level. Now on to conquer the FIA WEC. Ford enthusiasts and 24 Hours of Le Mans fans will undoubtely be riveted by&nbsp;the&nbsp;two Mustangs with their distinctive roar and iconic colours.</p>

What to expect from the Ford Mustang LMGT3 in 2025

Le Mans, Ignite your Senses | Tailored to the spectator experience, the 24 Hours of Le Mans consistently provokes intense emotions-turned-memories throughout race week and the main event. The sounds of the race are part of its unique make-up. The roar of an engine is music to the ears of many a motorsport fan, and one of the many reasons spectators attend races.

<p>Long after you return home after the 24 Hours of Le Mans,<u><strong> </strong></u><a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/the-roar-of-legends-how-sound-echoes-our-emotions-at-the-24-hours-of-le-mans-59206"><u><strong>your ears ring with its special sounds</strong></u></a>. The unmistakeable voice of track commentator Bruno Vandestick is part of the landscape, but it is regularly drowned out by a concerto of engines.<strong> Listen out for the Hypercars</strong>. Top class machines produce virtuoso performances. Lend an ear when the <strong>Cadillac V-Series.R</strong> sets off. The first notes are pianissimo electric, but before the American prototype has even exited the pit lane, the distinctive growl of the 5.5-litre V8 fills the air. That sound makes the car a favourite with the crowd. In comparison, the <strong>Ferrari</strong>&rsquo;s twin turbo V6 is brutal yet muted. You can hear the turbo blowing but the hybrid system is discrete. <strong>Peugeot</strong>&rsquo;s 9X8 has a similar set-up, with a hybrid system, but the two cars sound completely different. And the vibrant <strong>BMW</strong> 4-litre twin turbo V8 is different again. The German make&rsquo;s prototype has a distinctly modern sound: smaller capacity coupled with bleeding edge turbo technology.</p>

<div><iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="300" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1533900907&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true&amp;visual=true" width="100%"></iframe>

<div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-85419638" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="24 Heures du Mans">24 Heures du Mans</a> &middot; <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-85419638/cadillac-v-seriess-24-heures-du-mans-2023" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Ecoutez la Cadillac V-Series.S aux 24 Heures du Mans 2023">Ecoutez la Cadillac V-Series.S aux 24 Heures du Mans 2023</a></div>
</div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2>tuning up</h2>

<p>Listen carefully when these engines are just ticking over, and watch out for the sound that hails an acceleration. Thanks to their turbo power, all these cars have plenty of torque. The sort that gets a prototype to 300 kph in a few seconds. A roar goes by and rapidly fades away into the distance. To return again barely more than three minutes later. You&rsquo;ll pick it up, hear it approach, get louder, and louder. Suddenly, it comes <strong>thundering through the trees </strong>or along the pit straight. In a flurry of gear changes and braking before the Mulsanne Corner, almost inaudible at the apex, and then a crescendo of raging power<strong> obeying its driver&rsquo;s commands</strong>.</p>

<p>Sometimes cars get pushed to breaking point. Hoarse. Voiceless. The engine worn out. The same one that was singing at the top of its voice not so long ago, beating out a rhythm, lap after lap. In an instant it hiccups, then spouts garbled nonsense when the electronics get confused and it skips a few beats.</p>

<h2>LMGT3s: a symphony of power</h2>

<p>Here comes a pack of GT3s. The orchestra to the Hypercar soloists. They can certainly strike a chord! These engines develop 550 hp. Ample power to approach the 300 kph mark on the Mulsanne Straight. Which is easier to pick out, the<strong> metallic Porsche flat-6</strong> or the V8 of the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Corvette? No matter. As long as they do their job and <strong>play their tune</strong>! The Ferrari 296 GT3 stands apart due to its smaller cylinder capacity. In any case, when the prancing horses and their friends are on the run, you certainly hear them coming. When they ramp it up, the quick, clear-cut gear changes set them apart. A road car is no match.</p>

24 Hours of Le Mans: the soundtrack

For some dyed-in-the-wool fans,  attending the 24 Hours of Le Mans has become something of an annual pilgrimage whereas, for others, it's a once-in-a-lifetime, bucket-list experience. But for everyone, choosing the best place from which to enjoy the race can turn the weekend into an unforgettable memory. Here’s a rundown of the best vantage points that offer far more than a simple grandstand seat.

<p>At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, an admission ticket for the Wednesday and Thursday free practice and qualifying sessions, for the race weekend or for the full week grants the holder access to the general enclosure, the Mulsanne and Arnage Corners, the race village, the spectator mounds and the on-site events and entertainment (pitwalk, fan zones, concerts and funfair). But have you considered <strong>an official hospitality facility for a totally unique way of enjoying the race</strong>? VIP packages offer racegoers a selection of magnificent views of various points of the track for a fully immersive experience.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;">&gt;&gt;&gt; <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/24-hours-of-le-mans-new-spectator-vantage-points-59091" target="_blank"><u><strong>New vantage points for spectators</strong></u></a><b>&nbsp;</b>&lt;&lt;&lt;</p>

<h2>An outstanding view over the&nbsp;Corvette Turn</h2>

<p>Located at the heart of the Karting des 24 Heures, <strong>Starter24</strong> is the place to be for spectators eager to feel the full energy of the race in a fan-friendly atmosphere.<br />
The spacious terrace offers an unrivalled view of the Corvette Turn, where drivers rely on downforce to keep the car firmly on the tarmac. With a slight gradient forcing the cars towards the outside of the turn, the drivers must be wary of overstepping the track limits to avoid the wrath of Race Control! This is also an ideal spot to enjoy watching the most exciting track tussles in a relaxed setting.</p>

<p>.</p>

<h2>All the magic of the starting ceremony</h2>

<p>If you want to explore all the aspects of the event, <strong>Pavillon24 </strong>is just what you&rsquo;re looking for. This VIP package includes access to several exclusive vantage points:</p>

<ul>
	<li>The Karting des 24 Heures terrace to watch the cars negotiate Corvette Turn</li>
	<li>A strategically placed grandstand to feel the magic of the starting ceremony&nbsp;</li>
	<li>A box with a lofty view of the pit lane where the team&rsquo;s strategies are played out</li>
</ul>

<p>This facility takes you straight to the heart of the action and offers an insight into the different facets of the race.</p>

<h2>The Motul Raccordement Turn you&rsquo;ve never seen it before</h2>

<p>Just a stone&rsquo;s throw from the paddocks and the pit building, <strong>Le Mans Spirit Club</strong> transports you straight to the heart of the event. The remarkable terrace offers an outstanding view of Motul Raccordement Turn where the cars return from public road to purpose-built racetrack. The kerbs of both chicanes come into play as the drivers seek to maintain the highest possible speed though this technical section. Every fraction of a second counts here before crossing the timing line! <strong>A chance to spot the most skilful drivers</strong> and the best adjusted cars.<br />
This top-quality facility is the perfect place to discover the &ldquo;spirit of Le Mans&rdquo; in ultimate comfort.</p>

<h2>A bird&rsquo;s eye view</h2>

<p><strong>Panoramic24 </strong>does exactly what it says on the tin! Located facing the garages, this premium lounge offers a breathtaking view encompassing the starting ceremony on the pit straight and the pit lane, and extends as far as the legendary Dunlop Curve. Follow the action night and day from an outdoor walkway or in sumptuous surroundings.<br />
Bespoke services and a quality programme of activities turn this experience into long-cherished memories.</p>

<h2>The most exclusive points of the&nbsp;circuit</h2>

<p>Our <strong>Gold Experience</strong> is our ultimate package for a totally immersive adventure. This package opens the door to the most select parts of the Circuit des 24 Heures, such as <strong>Indianapolis</strong>, <strong>Mulsanne Corner</strong> and the <strong>Daytona Chicane</strong>, and to a range of exclusive activities. From dawn to dusk, let yourself be guided through a specially tailored programme and tingle with the excitement of the race like never before.<br />
With these various VIP options, every spectator can find their own ideal location from which to enjoy the 24 Hours of Le Mans. So, why not <strong>transform your passion for the race into an unforgettable experience</strong>? Contact our hospitality team today and find the VIP package best suited to you.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;">&gt;&gt;&gt; <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/hospitality/vip" target="_blank"><u><strong>Find out more about&nbsp;24 Hours of Le Mans VIP packages</strong></u></a> &lt;&lt;&lt;</p>

The best vantage points from which to enjoy the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2025

<h2 style="text-align: justify; ">The double victory of the &quot;Six hours in Imola&quot; &ndash; Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 of Jaime Melo and&nbsp;Toni Vilander in position 1 and Giancarlo Fisichella-Gianmaria Bruni in the second place -&nbsp;projects the AF Corse team at the top of Le Mans Series championships (LMS) and of Le&nbsp;Mans Intercontinental Cup (ILMC), GTE Pro category.</h2>

<p style="text-align: justify; ">AF Corse led both series before their &#39;home&#39; race, but now the gaps have widened. In the Le Mans Series, AF Corse is the leading team with 46 points, against the 25 of the second ranked team of the GTE Pro (Hankook Team). In the drivers classification, AF Corse is in position 1 and 2. Giancarlo Fisichella-Gianmaria Bruni are dominating the competition (45 points), ahead the pit-mates Toni Vilander and Jaime Melo who are in second position with 26 points.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify; ">In the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, the Italian team is in first position ahead of BMW (68 to 62 points). Thanks to positive results of AF Corse cars, Ferrari is in the leading position of ILMC constructors championship. The ILMC championship have not drivers classification.&nbsp;During the &ldquo;Six hours of Imola&rdquo;, the two 458 GT2 AF Corse are not the only car which shone. In GTE Am category, Ferrari 430 GT2 driven by Piergiuseppe Perazzini, Marco Cioci and Stephane Lemeret finished the race in third place. The crew remains close to the top&nbsp;of the drivers standings (they are second with 39 points). Among the teams of the GTE Am, AF Corse is in position 2, three points behind (38 to 41).&nbsp;</p>

24H LE MANS

AF Corse, leader on all fronts.

Related News

Ford's legendary legacy at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

What to expect from the Ford Mustang LMGT3 in 2025

24 Hours of Le Mans: the soundtrack

The best vantage points from which to enjoy the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2025

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