Ford Returns To Le Mans 2016 Ford GT LM GTE '16

[MadManCK]

Ford will return to LM in 2016.



I always find races like LM more useful for car manufacturers. Endurance racing truly stresses parts and cars. This will make production cars safer and more reliable.

So i think the return of Ford is important. More should follow.

[Miao]

A race-going version of the Ford GT will compete at Le Mans in 2016, 50 years after the original first won the classic endurance race.

Executive chairman Bill Ford, chief executive Mark Fields and product development president Raj Nair were present at Le Mans today for the announcement.

A return to sports car racing in 2016 allows the company to both promote its new Ford Performance sub-brand and commemorate the 50th anniversary of the original GT race car placing first, second and third at the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours. Ford went on to win the race for four years in succession, from 1966-1969.

Powered by a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 from Ford's EcoBoost line-up, as already raced in American sports car championships, the GT will compete in the LM GTE Pro category, where it will face rivals such as the Ferrari 458 Italia, Porsche 911 RSR, Aston Martin Vantage V8 and Chevrolet Corvette C7R.

Two two-car teams will race in the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship and United SportsCar Championship, both operated by Chip Ganassi Racing. Driver line-ups for both teams will be announced at a later date, but four cars have been confirmed for Le Mans. The car will make its debut in next January's Daytona 24 Hours.

Talks to return Ford to top-flight motorsport are understood to have started in 2013.

The racing GT features new aerodyamic bodywork, new lightweight carbon fibre materials and a chassis which is described as “exceptionally rigid but light”.

The Ford Performance sub-brand, which aims to bring 12 new performance vehicles to market by 2020. Other road-going models in the programme include the Ford Focus RS, the Shelby GT350 and GT350R, the F-150 Raptor, the Focus ST and Fiesta ST.

Speaking at the launch, Bill Ford said: “We’re back. We’re back at Le Mans and we’re back with a supercar.

“Ford’s history in racing is legendary, across many circuits and across the globe. We’re back with a car and a partner that we feel great about. The first time I saw the early rendering of this vehicle, I was in love.”

Raj Nair added: “As we developed the Ford GT, from the outset, we wanted to ensure we had a car that has what it takes to return Ford to the world of GT racing.

“We believe the Ford GT’s advances in aerodynamics, light-weighting and EcoBoost power will make for a compelling race car that can once again compete on a global stage.”

Ford's announcement highlights the growing manufacturer interest in sports car racing. BMW is also believed to be interested in entering a hydrogen-powered racer in 2018.

The road-going Ford GT is powered by a mid-mounted 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 EcoBoost engine which develops more than 600bhp, and is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Initially developed in secret, the road-going GT will go on sale in 2016, with a price tag of around £240,000. That means the GT will be occupying the same segment as the Ferrari 488 GTB, McLaren 675LT and Lamborghini Aventador.

Ford hasn’t been shy about communicating the new GT’s racetrack potential since the road-going version was unveiled at the Detroit motor show at the start of this year.

The £240,000 road car was developed in collaboration with Multimatic Motorsports, a Canadian racing team with a 30-year pedigree of working with Ford on its race programmes.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor ... -mans-2016

[MadManCK]

I posted this one in the Le Mans News thread

http://tdudrivetime.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1938

[Miao]

I posted this one in the Le Mans News thread

http://tdudrivetime.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1938

Which is not even in the correct forum section, and is kinda of a pointless thread as we already had a Le Mans thread before the creation of that one.

And I'd rather have separate threads for new cars than have them all posted in a single one.

[MadManCK]

Which is not even in the correct forum section

It is in the correct section, as it is about news and not another car thread.

As this is about Ford returning to Le Mans i leave it with this. Stay on topic please.

[Whiterun Guard]

Hey, if you drive this car backwards you probably can use it as a snowplough.

I like the overall body design of it, but not the livery, why couldn't they have chosen Gulf?

[Miao]

Which is not even in the correct forum section

It is in the correct section, as it is about news and not another car thread.

The Showroom is a space for us to post and talk about anything car related, including motorsport, thus the appropriate location for your thread is here, and not at the Lay By.

Hey, if you drive this car backwards you probably can use it as a snowplough.

True. This car got the 2nd biggest rear diffuser I have ever seen. 1st place goes to the Lotus Evora GT300

I like the overall body design of it, but not the livery

That livery looks better when you invert the red 'n blue.

why couldn't they have chosen Gulf?

Because of reasons...

[MadManCK]

If Gulf decides to sponsor the Ford GT, that would be awesome. But i don't think M. Al Fayed will do anything like that soon®. For obvious reasons.

Those colors belong on that car. Gulf and Martini are my favorite liveries.

[MadManCK]

[Lunytrickz]