24h Le Mans
Ford has confirmed its Hypercar entry for the FIA World Endurance Championship from 2027 onwards. The US carmaker is bent on a remake of its glorious past at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Under the Ford Performance banner, the top class entry comes with a will to win the race outright.
Ford reigned supreme at Le Mans between 1966 and 1969. Since that streak, the Dearborn brand has contented itself with class wins. First, in 2016 with the Ford GT in LMGTE PRO and more recently with the Ford Mustang in LMGT3.
Bill Ford, Ford Motor Company Executive Chair makes his company’s ambitions clear: “We are entering a new era for performance and racing at Ford. You can see it from what we’re doing on-road and off-road. When we race, we race to win. And there is no track or race that means more to our history than Le Mans. It is where we took on Ferrari and won in the 1960s. It is where we returned 50 years later and shocked the world and beat Ferrari again. I am thrilled that we’re going back to Le Mans and competing at the highest level of endurance racing. We are ready to once again challenge the world, and ‘go like hell!’”
Ford’s return adds even more spice to the already delectable FIA WEC field. Alpine, Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Peugeot, Porsche and Toyota are already on the Hypercar grid, to be joined by Genesis in 2027. “Ford has been synonymous with success both on and off-track for decades,” says FIA WEC head Frédéric Lequien. “We are delighted that the company has chosen the FIA World Endurance Championship for its latest challenge. To have at least ten major automotive brands committed to the series’ top-tier in 2027 is testament to the championship’s stellar momentum and growth."
Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, stresses the historic element behind the announcement: “It is wonderful news to welcome Ford back to the top level of the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time in almost 60 years. It is a brand that has always had a close affinity with this very special race, and history shows that Ford does not compete to finish second. The renewal of its famous rivalry with Ferrari is truly an exciting prospect.”
More details on the Ford entry for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA WEC coming soon.
