Ford Racing has hailed the first comprehensive test of its all-new Hypercar as ‘a huge moment’ and ‘a really positive start’, as the legendary Blue Oval embarks upon a journey that it hopes will one day lead the brand to FIA World Endurance Championship title glory.
A well-established contender in GT categories, Ford will return to the long-distance discipline’s very top-tier for the first time in almost six decades next year, when it joins FIA WEC’s burgeoning Hypercar class.
As it intensifies its preparations for that eagerly-anticipated debut, the Michigan-based marque has successfully completed its maiden full test with the yet-to-be-named prototype, after wrapping up a comprehensive shakedown and three days of running at Paul Ricard in southern France.
“Getting our Hypercar out on-track for the first time was a huge moment for the team,” commented Ford Racing Global Director, Mark Rushbrook. “This is only the first step of a long and demanding development road, but every mile we put on this car brings us closer to Le Mans, and closer to reclaiming our place at the top of endurance racing.”
“This is exactly the milestone we set out to hit,” echoed Dan Sayers, Ford Racing’s FIA WEC Hypercar Programme Manager, reflecting upon the model’s first extended running since the 5.4-litre, Coyote-based V8 engine was fired up at chassis partner, ORECA in early July.
“Everything we did in the build-up – the dyno work in Dearborn, the fire-up in France, the countless hours in the sim – was about making sure that when we rolled out onto the track, we were ready to plug and play. There’s a long list of milestones still ahead of us before Q1 2027, but these past couple of weeks have given the team a lot of confidence and strong foundations to build upon.”
The car covered more than 1,000 kilometres at Paul Ricard in the hands of drivers Logan Sargeant, Matt Campbell, Tom Blomqvist and Mike Rockenfeller, with British duo Sebastian Priaulx and Nick Yelloly similarly in attendance to gather feedback and ensure they are ready for the next stage of the testing process.
“Kicking off a new programme always takes time,” acknowledged Sargeant, who currently competes for Ford customer outfit, Proton Competition in FIA WEC’s LMGT3 division. “You’re figuring out how all the pieces fit together, and we’re still working through that. That said, we really hit the ground running – and starting testing from where we did is a huge credit to the team.
“There have already been countless hours poured into this project, including a ton of time in the simulator, so we’ve had a massive head-start. Now, it’s about making sure everything comes together flawlessly, and that’s the next step for us. We can honestly say we’ve started in the best possible way.”
“I’ve been here for the whole test and from my side, it’s gone smoothly,” added Campbell. “I’ve seen fans online raving about how awesome the sound is, but from inside the cockpit, it’s on another level – it’s absolutely deafening! I’m genuinely excited for what’s ahead with this car.
“We know there’s a long road in front of us, but this has been a really positive start. I’ve had the most track time out of the drivers, and aside from a few minor teething issues – which you’d expect at the beginning of a new programme – everything has gone well. From here, things really ramp up; I’m heading back to the USA for three days of sim work before returning to Europe for the next test.”
Indeed, Paul Ricard kicked off an intensive development schedule that is set to span three continents over the upcoming months, beginning with a three-day simulator session in North Carolina followed by a test at Portimão in Portugal at the beginning of September.
Next up will be further tests at European circuits Silverstone, Monza, Imola and MotorLand Aragón, before the focus shifts to the USA at the end of the year, with planned track time at both Circuit of The Americas (COTA) and Sebring.
All of FIA WEC. All of endurance racing’s greatest battles. Watch live and on demand with FIAWEC+ – the official streaming platform of the FIA World Endurance Championship, wherever you are, whenever you want, including the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Stream FIA WEC live with FIAWEC+.
