Ford will return to racing action at the Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race in 2016 with the new generation of the Ford GT race car, half a century after a record-breaking finish by securing all three top 1-2-3 positions in the famous race in the fearsome Ford GT40 in 1966.
The Ford GT race car is a testament to Ford's capabilities and the innovations it is introducing based on Ford's new super-high performance car, the GT, introduced in January 2015.
Ford Chip Ganassi Racing has revealed the names of the drivers for the new Ford GT in the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). They are Marino Franchitti, Stefan Mücke, Olivier Pla and Andy Priaulx.
- Marino Franchitti, Stefan Mücke, Olivier Pla & Andy Priaulx will drive the new Ford GT in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) with Ford Chip Ganassi Racing
- Richard Westbrook, Dirk Müller, Joey Hand & Ryan Briscoe will drive the new Ford GT in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, it has been announced
- Mücke will join Ford Chip Ganassi Racing at the Rolex 24 at Daytona
Ford runs two cars in the WEC and two in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The two teams will join forces in June in a four-car joint effort in the world's most famous endurance race, the Le Mans 24 Hours, 50 years after the historic 1-2-3 finish. The WEC will visit three more locations in Europe, Silverstone (UK), Nurburgring (Germany) and Spa (Belgium).
"To explain, we race to win," said Dave Pericak, global director of Ford Performance. "To race at this level you need the best car, the best team and the best drivers and for the Ford GT we chose Stefan, Olivier, Andy and Marino."
"I'm thrilled to be at team headquarters in Britain for the WEC team presentation," said Chip Ganassi, boss of Ford Chip Ganassi Racing. "As when we announced the Ford GT drivers for the Weathertech Sportscar Championship last month, we again selected fast, courageous and endurance-tested drivers. It's a global team running in two championships and I can't wait for the racing to begin."
Briton Marino Franchitti is an endurance racing expert and has raced at Le Mans five times. Germany's Stefan Mücke has several WEC wins under his belt and is ready to challenge for a podium position at Le Mans. Frenchman Olivier Pla, also knows first-hand what fierce competition in the WEC means. Britain's Andy Priaulx is a three-time winner of the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) and has won the Nürburgring 24 Hours and a podium at Le Mans.
Ford Chip Ganassi Racing's WEC leader - George Howard-Chappell - has already led a team to victory at Le Mans three times.
"The unrivalled competition at the Le Mans 24 Hours is what makes the win so special," said Howard-Chappell. "Everything has to be perfect, but even then you need luck on your side to finish first. The Ford GT was created for a return to Le Mans and these four drivers know well what is required at the ultimate level of competition."
Mücke will soon be behind the wheel of the Ford GT with the IMSA Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team for the Roar Before the Rolex 24 at Daytona, January 8-10. Mücke will be the third driver of the #67 Ford GT at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, which takes place Jan. 30-31 alongside Ryan Briscoe and Richard Westbrook.
The new Ford GT is the epitome of Ford's innovation in aerodynamics and lightweight carbon fibre body construction. Under the hood is the twin-turbo Ford EcoBoost V6, the most powerful EcoBoost engine ever produced.
Presentation of Ford Chip Ganassi Racing drivers for the WEC
Marino Franchitti is part of a family with performance 'written' in its DNA. He won the 12 Hours of Sebring with Chip Ganassi Racing-Ford in 2014 - Ford's first overall win there since 1969.
"From my first test drive with the Ford GT I fell in love with it and all I wanted was to drive it all the time. It's incredible to be part of Ford's return to international GT racing and to be racing at Le Mans 50 years after its first win there." Franchitti said. "The car has a great driving feel. The new LM GTE rules certainly take the performance of a GT car to new levels and Ford and its partners have built a fantastic car."
Stefan Mücke is an accomplished racing driver. The German has raced in the WEC's GTE Pro class since its creation in 2012 and knows the World Endurance Championship inside out.
"I'm terribly pleased to have a role in such an important programme, mainly because of the history of the Ford GT at Le Mans," said Mücke. "Le Mans is a very special race that everyone wants to win because of the high degree of difficulty. I've come very close to winning in the past and now I hope that with the Ford we can do it."
Olivier Pla is one of the best kept secrets in the world of sports driving. The 'silent' Frenchman is a tremendously skilful driver and knowledgeable about the high demands of such a class.
"It's a huge honour to represent Ford - the Ford GT is a very special car and I consider it a privilege to drive it. The level of competition will be incredibly high in the WEC but I'm looking forward to racing. As a Frenchman, I feel that driving the Ford GT at Le Mans will be a very special experience."
Andy Priaulx is a three-time winner of the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), having won the Nürburgring 24 Hours, the Sebring 12 Hours, and a podium finish at Le Mans.
"A new project is always exciting, but for me, driving a Ford in the WEC is just another level," said Priaulx. "I can't wait to get behind the wheel and start preparations for the season. All motorsport fans will remember the legendary Ford GT40s and I feel privileged to be part of this programme, 50 years after Ford's historic victory at Le Mans.
World Endurance Championship Programme:
- 17 April: 6 Hours of Silverstone, UK
- 7 May: 6 Hours of Spa, Belgium
- 18/19 June: the Le Mans 24 Hours, France
- 24 July: 6 Hours of Nürburgring, Germany
- 3 September: 6 Hours of Mexico City, Mexico
- 17 September: 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas (Lone Star Le Mans), USA
- 16 October: 6 Hours of Fuji, Japan
- 6 November: 6 Hours of Shanghai, China
- 19 November: 6 Hours of Bahrain, Bahrain
