Ford GT LM Edition marks brand's Le Mans wins, production end of supercar

MANILA: The 2022 Ford GT LM Edition honors the only supercar to win at Le Mans for America, which includes victories in 2016 and the legendary 1-2-3 podium sweep in 1966.

“With innovative materials, design and engineering, the Ford GT is unlike any other production supercar,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “As we close this chapter of the road-going Ford GT, the GT LM Edition gave us a chance to inject even more heart and soul from a podium-finishing racecar, furthering the tribute to our 2016 Le Mans win.”

The Ford GT remains exclusive, and these final 20 special-edition supercars will add to its collectability. Deliveries of the 2022 final model-year Ford GT LM Edition begin this fall with production wrapping up later this year.

The limited-edition 2023 Ford GT LM is distinctively completed in either a red or blue motif throughout, recalling the red and blue race livery of the Le Mans winning No. 68 Ford GT. Its carbon fiber body is proudly coated in Liquid Silver exterior paint.

Customers can select exposed red or blue colored carbon fiber for a distinctive look that emphasizes the supercar's lower aerodynamics. The front splitter, side sills, and door sills, as well as the engine bay louvers, mirror stalks, and rear diffuser, are all made of the ultra-lightweight material that has been tinted.

To further update this kit, added exposed gloss carbon fiber 20-inch wheels with appropriate red or blue inner-barrel highlights, titanium lug nuts, and black-lacquered Brembo brake calipers.

A 3D titanium-printed dual exhaust that is exclusive to the Ford GT LM has cyclonic detailing inside the tips and alludes to the twin-turbo 660 horsepower EcoBoost engine. A titanium GT LM insignia is also 3D printed and placed above the tips.

Alcantara-wrapped carbon fiber seats with a matching red or blue driver's seat, an ebony passenger seat with accent stitching that matches the driver's seat color, and the engine start button are just a few of the distinctive interior features found in the Ford GT LM Edition.

Ebony leather and Alcantara are used to cover the instrument panel, and Ebony Alcantara is also used to cover the pillars and headliner. Inside the cabin, matte-finished carbon fiber can be seen on the console, vent registers, and lower A-pillars.

Making the Ford GT LM Edition a special final tribute, the Ford Performance team looked for ways to embed the Le Mans podium-finishing spirit into each road car.

The result: the team located the third-place 2016 Ford GT No. 69 race car’s engine that was disassembled and shelved after the race, ground down the crankshaft into a powder, and developed a unique bespoke alloy used to 3D print the instrument panel badge for each of the 20 special-edition supercars.

The 2022 Ford GT LM Edition honors the No. 68 Ford GT driven by Sébastien Bourdais, Joey Hand, and Dirk Müller when they crossed the finish line at the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours as well as the overall victory of the third-generation supercar.

Similar to the historic Ford vs Ferrari duel of 1966, the No. 68 Ford GT overtook the No. 82 Ferrari for the final time in the 20th hour of the race. Three times the Ford passed the Ferrari with Hand at the wheel, reigniting a 50-year-old rivalry between the two automakers.

After finishing third, the No. 69 Ford GT driven by Ryan Briscoe, Scott Dixon, and Richard Westbrook joined the winners on the podium. The Ford GTs with the numbers 66 and 67 came in fourth and ninth, respectively.

The 2022 Ford GT LM also pays tribute to the Ford Chip Ganassi team's heroic efforts and perseverance, which allowed them to turn the car into a Le Mans champion in just 395 days, or just over a year.

Photos from Ford

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