Ford Back at LeMans for 50th Anniversary of Historic Win

Ford’s EcoBoost engine will face its biggest challenge as it goes under the hood of the automaker’s new endurance racer set for LeMans next year.

The automaker announces today in a webcast from LeMans, France, that it will return to the race next year, the 50^th anniversary of Ford’s stunning 1-2-3 finish at the 1966 event that shocked Ferrari and the rest of the racing world.

The race car, based on Ford’s upcoming GT super car unveiled in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, will be powered by a high-output version of the automaker’s 3.5L EcoBoost V-6.

No specifications were doled out during the webcast, but officials say the engine has been in development for the past year alongside the stock 3.5L EcoBoost that will power the road version of the GT.

“As we developed the Ford GT, from the outset, we wanted to ensure we had a car that has what it takes to return Ford to the world of GT racing,” says Raj Nair, vice president-Global Product Development and Chief Technical Officer. “We believe the Ford GT’s advances in aerodynamics, lightweighting and EcoBoost power will make for a compelling race car that can once again compete on a global stage.”

Ford CEO Mark Fields says the race program will serve as a test bed for Ford that is expected to lead to innovations in production models. He points to the 3D printing process that will be used for the GT racer’s intake system and other components as one example of technology that could filter down to mainstream vehicles.

Ford plans to roll out 12 new performance models by 2020 that could use performance parts that derive their DNA from the automaker’s racing experience.

“The GT has a great heritage, but it also is lighting a path to our future,” Fields says.

The racecar will make its debut in January at the 24 Hours of Daytona under the direction of Chip Ganassi Racing.

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