All four Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GTs will compete in the historic 2017 24 Hours of Le Mans
Last year, Ford took 1st (#68), 3rd (#69), 4th (#66), and 9th (#67) in the GTE Pro class, 50 years after the historic 1-2-3 Ford GT40 finish in the 1966 race
2017 marks an important anniversary: the 50th anniversary of the second victory of Americans Dan Gurney & AJ Foyt, in Ford's four-year Le Mans winning streak
In 2016 Ford had a new car, a new team and a new challenge to face: winning Le Mans 50 years after the 1-2-3 in 1966.
The team took a historic victory and has since gone from strength to strength, excelling in races around the world, competing in both the FIA World Endurance Championship and the US WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
In a few days' time, four Ford GTs from the Chip Ganassi Racing team will line up on the starting line of the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the Circuit de la Sarthe to defend last year's victory of the #68 Ford GT.
"The Ford GT represents the best of what Ford has to offer and is our driving force to achieve perfection in everything we do," said Bill Ford, Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company. "Our return to Le Mans last year and our victory in the GTE Pro Class filled all of our people around the world with pride. It proved that through collaboration you can achieve amazing things. We are excited to return to Le Mans to defend our title."
The 2017 race marks an important anniversary: the 50th anniversary of the victory of Americans Dan Gurney and AJ Foyt at Le Mans, behind the wheel of a Ford GT40. That second victory of four in a row overall, laid the foundations for Ford's dominance of the world's greatest motor race.
"Last year we brought Ford back into the world of GT endurance racing and winning Le Mans was a moment of great pride for Ford itself, our partners and all our friends," said Raj Nair, executive vice president, and president North America, Ford Motor Company. "We are defending our title this year knowing that winning a victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans takes incredible effort. I know the Ford Performance team is up to the challenge and we look forward to participating in this incredible race again."
"Each of the four car crews is looking forward to returning to Le Mans to defend last year's victory," said team owner Chip Ganassi. "It's always nice to participate knowing that you have four serious chances to win a historic race like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We had a fantastic year in 2016 with the Ford GT and we're looking forward to an even better 2017."
"It's clear that after the 2017 development testing (performance restrictions designed to better compete) we realized we have a lot of work to do before the race," said Dave Pericak, General Manager of Ford Performance. "Last year we took a historic win in a race that was as competitive as ever. We can only hope that the race with the new cars will be just as balanced and give us the same level of competition as the spectators hope."
Bourdais out, Kanaan in at Le Mans
The only missing piece of the puzzle will be Le Mans-born Sébastien Bourdais, who is currently recovering from his accident in qualifying for the Indianapolis 500. This is a blow for the team since Bourdais was part of the #68 crew that took the win in 2016, but Joey Hand (USA) and Dirk Müller (Germany) will have INDYCAR star Brazilian Tony Kanaan alongside them to help them fight for the big trophy again.
"Certainly nothing will be the same without Seb at Le Mans," says Hand. "But we're a strong crew and we're ready for it. I'm working every day to make sure I can get through the race and be at the highest level throughout. Racing at Le Mans is tough mentally as well but the great support I have from my family helps me from that perspective. I believe that if you are good in everything else, you will be good in the race. We've been lucky to have a lot of time in the Ford Performance simulator and I've been thinking a lot about the different Le Mans regulations. There's no room for mistakes if you're aiming for victory, so I want to make sure we're composed."
The crew of the #69 Ford GT remains as it was, with Australian Ryan Briscoe, Britain's Richard Westbrook and this year's Indianapolis 500 pole holder, New Zealander Scott Dixon. The three of them were on the podium last year and that gave them an idea of what success at Le Mans feels like.
"I can't wait to get back," says Briscoe "It was an amazing experience last year to be a part of Ford's historic comeback. I hope to be up there and race for the win again. It was the experience of a lifetime to get on the podium last year. The crowd cheering for you underneath is an incredible sight. Le Mans is an amazing race to be a part of. There are so many drivers participating from all over the world. So many different nationalities and cultures but with one single goal."
The #66 Ford GT of Stefan Mücke (Germany), Olivier Pla (France) and Billy Johnson (USA) finished 4th last year after being forced to pit after receiving a penalty for a broken light plate on the car. However, the crew were only one lap behind the winners at the finish and this time they are more motivated than ever.
"That penalty cost us a very good result at Le Mans," says Mücke. "The result was great for the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team and it was very special for all of us to be the first people to drive the Ford GT race car at Le Mans. We may not have gotten the result we wanted but that's Le Mans. You have to have a perfectly clean race to win.
Our goal is always to win and this year we have the new World Championship so the double points at Le Mans are very important. It's 24 hours, it's a tough battle and you have to get to the end without any problems. It's not possible to predict the outcome of Le Mans. As we saw last year with Toyota, everything can be turned around in the last lap."
The 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans was a tough race for the crew of the #67 Ford GT as the car suffered a gearbox problem before the start, which gave them no hope. This year, Brits Andy Priaulx and Harry Tincknell along with Brazilian Pipo Derani want to be at the heart of the battle.
"We had finished fourth at the start of last year's race and we were happy because we had a good strategy and our pace looked good," says Tincknell. "Unfortunately we had a gearbox problem when we came back to the start line and had to repair it in the pits, which cost us 40 minutes. This put us out of contention so after that our race turned into a logging and data collection mission. Le Mans is the biggest race in the world and counts double in the World Championship so it's particularly important. Our goal is to win, of course, but we also need to score the most points among the cars competing in the WEC."
Participation in Le Mans for Ford GT drivers:
Stefan Mücke -- 10 times (2007-2016)
Olivier Pla -- 9 times (2008-2016)
Richard Westbrook -- 6 times (2010-2014, 2016)
Dirk Müller -- 5 times (1999-2000, 2010-2011, 2016)
Andy Priaulx -- 3 times (2010-2011, 2016)
Harry Tincknell -- 3 times (2014-2016)
Ryan Briscoe -- 3 times (2013, 2015-2016)
Joey Hand -- 2 times (2011, 2016)
Pipo Derani -- 2 times (2015-2016)
Scott Dixon -- 1 time (2016)
Billy Johnson -- 1 time (2016)
Tony Kanaan - his first participation in Le Mans
Which Ford GT is that?
The four Ford GTs will compete at Le Mans in the same colours of red, white and blue. To make it easier for commentators and race spectators to distinguish between the cars, they will feature windscreen strips, exterior mirrors and an LED light in the middle of the windscreen in the colours below:
#66 GREEN
#67 BLUE
#68 RED
#69 YELLOW
Something that is being done for the first time this year and will be especially impressive at night, is the use of fluorescent paint on the exterior mirrors that will highlight the unique colours of each car, making it visible at all hours without the slightest extra weight.
Did you know that?
When Dan Gurney decided to spray the Champagne he was given on the podium after his 1967 victory, he created a tradition that still continues today.
It was Bruce McLaren who told Chris Amon "Go Like Hell!" in 1966.
Ford results at Le Mans in the 1960s.
1966
1st place Bruce McLaren (New Zealand) / Chris Amon (New Zealand)
2nd place Ken Miles (Great Britain) / Denis Hulme (New Zealand)
3rd place Ronnie Bucknum (USA) / Dick Hutcherson (USA)
1967
1st place Dan Gurney (USA) / AJ Foyt (USA)
1968
1st place Pedro Rodriguez (Mexico) / Lucien Bianchi (Belgium)
1969
1st place Jacky Ickx (Belgium) / Jackie Oliver (UK)
3rd place David Hobbs (Great Britain) / Mike Hailwood (Great Britain)
