Ford unveils 2016 GT racecar for Le Mans return
Ford has revealed its new GT racecar, which will compete in the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours and headline the marque’s endurance racing campaign.
Ford has taken the wraps off its 2016 GT racecar, confirming the car will compete in the LM GTE-Pro class at the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans. The announcement marks Ford’s official return to top-level endurance racing, fifty years after the original GT40’s famous run at the French classic.
The new GT racecar is derived from the upcoming 2017 Ford GT road car but wears a much more aggressive aerodynamic package. Ford has fitted a prominent front splitter, large rear wing, quad side exhausts and a substantial rear diffuser. The bodywork has been shaped for maximum downforce and stability at high speed, with clear intent to challenge established rivals in the GTE-Pro category.
Technical details and powertrain
Under the carbonfibre body, the GT racer is powered by a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine, the same architecture as the road-going GT but tuned for racing. Ford has not released full technical specifications or power figures at this stage. The chassis and suspension are designed for endurance racing, but further details remain under wraps ahead of the car’s competitive debut.
Endurance campaign and Le Mans ambitions
Ford’s factory GT programme will see the car contest both the FIA World Endurance Championship and the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. The centrepiece is the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours, where Ford aims to recapture the spirit of the original GT40’s four consecutive wins from 1966 to 1969. The project signals a renewed commitment to international sports car racing, targeting rivals such as Ferrari, Porsche and Corvette in the GTE-Pro class.
- 2016 Rolex 24 at Daytona (debut)
- 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship
- 2016 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship
- 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans
The GT racecar’s first outing will be at Daytona in January 2016, ahead of a full season campaign. The road car on which it is based is due to enter production as a 2017 model. For more on Ford’s 2016 model launches, see2016 Ford F 150 Goes Official.
