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Is Ford's return to Le Mans announcement
happening this weekend?June 8, 2015
-- While Ford’s return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2016 has been
considered an open secret, the Detroit automaker is reportedly preparing
to make the formal announcement at Circuit de la Sarthe on the race
weekend.
A Ford Performance hospitality unit and stage is being constructed
trackside (pictured at right), with all indications pointing towards an
unveil of its GTE-spec Ford GT car during race week at this year’s French
endurance classic.
As previously reported by "Sportscar365", a two-car factory GTE-Pro effort
is expected from Chip Ganassi Racing, which is also set to feature a GT Le
Mans class program in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship next year.
According to a report on "Motorsport.com", the Multimatic-built car, which
features a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, has already completed an initial
rollout at Calabogie Motorsports Park in Ontario with development driver
Scott Maxwell at the wheel.
All 2016 GTE-spec cars are required to take part in the FIA’s Balance of
Performance test at Michelin’s high-speed proving grounds near Clermont-Ferrand,
France in September.
Renderings of what the cars might look like are
shown at right.
Ford’s return to Le Mans will coincide with the 50th anniversary of its
first overall victory in the race, achieved by Bruce McLaren and Chris
Amon in a Ford GT40 Mk. II.
The 1960’s saw a titanic rivalry between the Blue Oval and Ferrari. A
special exhibition on the manufacturers’ duel at Le Mans will also be on
display at the track during the racing weekend.
History
Shelby American first achieved World wide
recognition with its win of the F.I.A. Sports Car World Championship in
1965 with their Cobra Daytona Coupe cars. Shelby American is the only
American Automotive Manufacturer to have won this award.
Under Shelby's direction
Ford enjoyed 2 straight years of wins at the French circuit.
The next two years the original Ford GT Mark 1s won with John Wyer's
teams.
The Shelby American team swept the 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall positions in
the 1966 race
Eye Candy in the form of Ford GT Mark IVs lined up in the Le Mans pits.
The All American team
with drivers Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt ( car #1) took the overall win in 1967.
The last Ford GT to win at Le Mans
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