Ford to make Le Mans comeback

MANILA: Ford Motor Company will compete at Le Mans in 2027, marking the American carmaker’s return to the iconic race.

Per the Blue Oval brand, it will enter the heat with a full factory team to once more take on the sport’s most demanding contest — the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“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 Motor Company Executive Chair Bill Ford said.

The Dearborn automotive brand is aiming to recapture the success it had nearly 60 years ago.

Between 1966 and 1969, Ford won four consecutive overall victories at the grandfather of all endurance sports car races in the city of Le Mans, France. Since that time, the company has focused on class victories, firstly in 2016 with the Ford GT in GTLM and more recently with the Ford Mustang GT3.

“Ford has been synonymous with success both on and off-track for decades, and 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,” FIA World Endurance Championship Chief Executive Officer Frédéric Lequien stated.

At the time of writing, Ford is yet to reveal its competition car. However, the brand noted that it will enter an LMDh unit in the race two years from now.

“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,” Automobile Club de l'Ouest President Pierre Fillon commented.

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