American automotive giant Ford has confirmed that it will run its forthcoming FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar programme in-house, enabling the brand to ‘bring technology back to our road cars more effectively and efficiently than ever before’.
It was revealed in January that Ford – which already has a presence in FIA WEC’s LMGT3 category via customer outfit Proton Competition – will return to the discipline’s top-tier with a factory Hypercar effort in 2027, almost six decades on from its glory days at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
It was subsequently announced during this year’s edition of the legendary La Sarthe contest that the Ford chassis will be designed and developed by ORECA courtesy of a technical tie-up with the experienced French organisation, and that the project will be led by former Red Bull Ford Powertrains Programme Director, Dan Sayers.
Ahead of its FIA WEC Hypercar debut, Ford Racing is already busy making further appointments to ensure its challenger hits the ground running the moment it takes to the track, with technical and operational support to be provided by engineering and motorsport consultancy group, Venture Engineering.
“It’s an exciting time as we continue to build and develop our Ford Racing Hypercar programme,” commented Ford Racing Global Director, Mark Rushbrook. “Competition runs through our veins and, as ‘America’s Race Team’, it seems only right that we carry the banner ourselves. Breaking from the traditional model of many manufacturers – and often our own model in the past – Ford Racing will oversee and manage every aspect of our prototype racing project.
“In-keeping with our core values, we will build our own internal expertise to create a framework for long-term success and learnings that will find their way into customer programmes of the future.
“We are not looking outside of our walls to find who can run a programme for us; we are looking within Ford Racing to build programmes infused with our passion. This gives us the ability to react more quickly on-track, enhancing our competitiveness. It also allows us to bring technology back to our road cars more effectively and efficiently than ever before.
“It doesn’t come without challenges, of course. In less than two years, we need to not only build the car itself but every part of the team, too – but we are building quickly and systematically.
“We have at our global disposal advanced racing facilities in Dearborn, Michigan and Charlotte, North Carolina in the United States, as well as Red Bull Ford Powertrains and our Hypercar facilities in the UK. We also have our chassis partner, ORECA, who have decades of winning experience and will additionally provide trackside support.
“These are assets that no-one can match – with over 100 Le Mans starts between them, they make the perfect partners to assist Ford Racing in this exciting new endeavour. While we bring these partners in, we are proud that this is very much a Ford Racing effort, and we are building a team culture which mirrors that of Ford Racing – passionate and driven by a need to be the best.
“Ford Racing rings true to the competitive blood that runs through the entirety of Ford Motor Company. It is a privilege to be racing as ‘America’s Race Team’. After all, there is no-one better to carry the Blue Oval into the highest level of international sportscar racing than Ford Racing itself.”
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