Ford Motor Company is set to make a comeback in the world of high-level prototype sports car racing as it joins the World Endurance Championship series in 2027 with an official factory team poised to compete in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“This marks a significant new chapter for performance and racing at Ford. We are making strides in both on-road and off-road ventures,” stated Bill Ford, the executive chairman of the company. “Our goal in racing is to secure victories, and there is no race or track more significant to our legacy than Le Mans.”
Ford’s history at Le Mans is notable, as the automaker achieved four consecutive overall wins from 1966 to 1969, guided by the legendary Carroll Shelby. This impressive track record led to a famous rivalry with Ferrari, which was captured in the award-winning film “Ford v Ferrari” released in 2019.
Bill Ford expressed excitement about the company’s return, reminiscing, “Le Mans is where we took on Ferrari and triumphed in the 1960s. It is also where we returned 50 years later to astonish the world by defeating Ferrari again. I am excited that we are heading back to Le Mans to compete at the highest level of endurance racing. We are prepared to challenge the global racing landscape once more and to ‘go like hell.’”
After stepping back from racing in 1969, Ford celebrated the 50th anniversary of its inaugural victory at Le Mans with a return to the event in 2016 in the GTLM category. This comeback was signified by a class victory achieved by a team from Chip Ganassi Racing. Recently, the Ford Mustang GT3 has participated at Le Mans as a customer entry.
Frédéric Lequien, CEO of the FIA World Endurance Championship, conveyed enthusiasm for Ford’s comeback, stating, “Ford has been a name associated with both on-track and off-track achievements for many years, and we are thrilled that the company has selected the FIA World Endurance Championship for its latest endeavor.”
In addition to its return to Le Mans, Ford will also re-enter Formula 1 in partnership with Red Bull the following year.
