Nearly six decades have passed since Ford last claimed victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, widely regarded as the most prestigious endurance race.
From 1966 to 1969, the Ford GT40 dominated the event, securing four consecutive wins, including the legendary 1-2-3 finish in 1966 that famously dethroned Ferrari.
Although Ford has taken part in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in various capacities over the years, the company is now striving to recapture the glory of its 1960s racing era by reentering the highest tier of competition with an all-new LMDh race car.
New Era of Competition
A fully backed factory team will represent Ford in the top hypercar class of the FIA WEC, with plans to officially join the grid in 2027.
This commitment includes competing in the legendary Le Mans race at the Circuit de la Sarthe in France. “When we race, we race to win. And no track or race means more to our history than Le Mans,” Ford CEO Bill Ford emphasized in a statement.
Specific details regarding the LMDh race car remain under wraps, as Ford has yet to reveal any images or technical information. Information about the driver lineup is also unavailable at this time, though speculation surrounds potential candidates.
Among those in consideration is German driver Dirk Müller, who played a key role in securing a class victory for the Ford GT at Le Mans in 2016. Müller also demonstrated Ford’s capabilities by guiding the Mustang GTD to a lap time of under seven minutes around the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
Expanding Motorsports Involvement
Additional names such as Dennis Olsen, Christopher Mies, and Frédéric Vervisch, all of whom are part of Ford’s GT3 driver roster, are also strong contenders.
Ford continues to broaden its involvement in motorsports worldwide. A new collaboration has been announced with Triple Eight Race Engineering, an Australian-based outfit that will lead Ford’s homologation team for the 2026 Supercars Championship, held across Australia and New Zealand.
This marks a reunion between the two, as Ford and Triple Eight previously worked together from 2003 to 2009.
Although Ford has not officially disclosed any plans regarding a North American campaign, it would be surprising if the company invested heavily in a prototype racing program without also making a move to compete on its home turf.
