All signs point to new Ford GT and 2016 return to Le Mans
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All signs point to new Ford GT and 2016 return to Le Mans
http://www.roadandtrack.com/racing/r...ord-gt-revival
Ford has yet to confirm or deny any of its future sports-car racing plans, yet some recent indicators could point to an intriguing direction from the manufacturer.
As we chronicled in July, a GTE-spec Mustang project was considered but then nixed, and a return to Le Mans with P2 engines was also on the table. Ford Racing boss Jamie Allison expressed a favorable opinion regarding a global and domestic P2 engine supply on Monday, and behind the scenes, a number of interesting developments have been progressing.
The other program that was being considered appears to now be in play, as multiple sources have reported Ford’s factory GT program for Le Mans is indeed accelerating towards a debut in 2016—the 50th anniversary of the brand’s victory at Le Mans with the Ford GT40 Mk II.
As we chronicled in July, a GTE-spec Mustang project was considered but then nixed, and a return to Le Mans with P2 engines was also on the table. Ford Racing boss Jamie Allison expressed a favorable opinion regarding a global and domestic P2 engine supply on Monday, and behind the scenes, a number of interesting developments have been progressing.
The other program that was being considered appears to now be in play, as multiple sources have reported Ford’s factory GT program for Le Mans is indeed accelerating towards a debut in 2016—the 50th anniversary of the brand’s victory at Le Mans with the Ford GT40 Mk II.
As for the Earth-shaking probability that a new Ford GT production car is tied to all this, a likely time and place for the announcement of the grand plan would be the 2015 Detroit Auto Show. That's three months away. Things seem ready to get a LOT more interesting, folks.
Last edited by Evil_Capri; Feb 6, 2015 at 05:36 AM.
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[QUOTE=Evil_Capri;6856444]http://www.roadandtrack.com/racing/r...ord-gt-revival /QUOTE]
Not that it's likely that a GT will ever grace my garage, but I'm excited about the prospect of a new generation of this machine in racing, and hopefully, street form.
One of my favorite racing pics of all time:
Not that it's likely that a GT will ever grace my garage, but I'm excited about the prospect of a new generation of this machine in racing, and hopefully, street form.
One of my favorite racing pics of all time:
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From: Rockaway, NJ
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From: Minnesota
I have my doubts about a Ford GT being ready to race at LeMans by June 2016. Just not enough time left to get a car built and tested before then. I would rather Ford build a two seat Thunderbird and race it.
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Confirmed!
http://autoweek.com/article/sports-c...p-ganassi-2016
http://autoweek.com/article/sports-c...p-ganassi-2016
The rumors, the buzz? Confirmed. Ford will unveil a GT-successor at January’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit, as anticipated.
Sources close to the program have confirmed to Autoweek that the car -- whether or not it is actually named “GT” in production guise, which it very well might not be -- will undertake a full, factory-backed racing effort in 2016. Specifically, a full-season, two car effort in the Tudor United SportsCar Championship and, most significantly, the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The two-car assault will be campaigned by IndyCar- and Tudor Series-stalwart, and full-time NASCAR entrant, Chip Ganassi Racing when the United SportsCar Championship opens 2016 with the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Ganassi is presently Ford’s lone Prototype-class representative in United SportsCar, where it campaigns a Riley-Ford EcoBoost DP. The team switched from BMW to turbocharged-V6 Ford EcoBoost power for the recently completed 2014 season, winning the 12 Hours of Sebring, as well as on the streets of Long Beach, Calif., and at Circuit of the Americas in Texas, on its way to finishing fourth in the championship.
Sources close to the program have confirmed to Autoweek that the car -- whether or not it is actually named “GT” in production guise, which it very well might not be -- will undertake a full, factory-backed racing effort in 2016. Specifically, a full-season, two car effort in the Tudor United SportsCar Championship and, most significantly, the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The two-car assault will be campaigned by IndyCar- and Tudor Series-stalwart, and full-time NASCAR entrant, Chip Ganassi Racing when the United SportsCar Championship opens 2016 with the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Ganassi is presently Ford’s lone Prototype-class representative in United SportsCar, where it campaigns a Riley-Ford EcoBoost DP. The team switched from BMW to turbocharged-V6 Ford EcoBoost power for the recently completed 2014 season, winning the 12 Hours of Sebring, as well as on the streets of Long Beach, Calif., and at Circuit of the Americas in Texas, on its way to finishing fourth in the championship.
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:sigh: Me not rich. 
and details about the car -- both road and race versions -- remain scarce
As the new “GT” program gears up to do battle in the GTLM class against rival entries from Porsche, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Aston Martin and BMW, there might be no better way for Ford to re-establish itself as a serious performance-car player.
It’s certainly the perfect way to celebrate 2016’s 50th anniversary of the company’s very first Le Mans overall win with the original GT40.
and details about the car -- both road and race versions -- remain scarce
As the new “GT” program gears up to do battle in the GTLM class against rival entries from Porsche, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Aston Martin and BMW, there might be no better way for Ford to re-establish itself as a serious performance-car player.
It’s certainly the perfect way to celebrate 2016’s 50th anniversary of the company’s very first Le Mans overall win with the original GT40.
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