Ford announce a new GT road supercar for Le Mans 2016
The Times report yesterday notes "Formula One was snubbed by one of the World’s biggest carmakers yesterday when Ford announced they would attempt to recreate their legend of Le Mans. Ford took the wraps off a GT road supercar that will race in the World Endurance Series and in the United States before tackling the Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race next season. F1 should be concerned - it changed engine regulations to bring in hybrid power hoping to attract new manufacturers. Only Honda showed up while Porsche, Toyota, Nissan and now Ford have all moved into the world of endurance cars."

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Photos: Times 150614
Posted: 150614


A report in the Times today says "on Friday Ford announced that it would return to the track to compete against Ferrari, exactly 50 years after its famous victory at le Mans. Its new GT road supercar, which was unveiled in January, will be joined by a racing model, to have its covers whipped off at this weekend’s le Mans 24 Hours event. It will compete in next year’s race.

The cars will take part in the GTE Pro category for road-based cars: Ford GTs and Ferrari 458s will run against Porsche 911s, Aston Martin Vantages and Chevrolet Corvettes. Ford believes its car is likely to derive an advantage from the category rules, which state that the racing version of the model must retain many of the road car’s features.

The Americans say the body shape will reduce drag and generate large amounts of downforce, while the carbon-fibre chassis will reduce weight. They believe the 3.5-litre turbocharged V6 engine will be more than a match for Ferrari’s V8s. British spectators should get an early view of the car next April, when the Ford GT is due to compete in the first round of the 2016 world endurance championship, provisionally scheduled for Silverstone. The roadgoing car is due to go on sale in Britain next year."

The rumble of the Chevrolet Corvette C7R entered by Corvette Racing-GM leaving the pits is a wonderful sound. It's running 2nd in GTE Pro class and 19th overall.