Ford To Join TUDOR Championship GT Le Mans Ranks Beginning In 2016

When the production version of the new Ford GT was unveiled to worldwide fanfare in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, one of the most frequently asked questions was, “When will the car begin racing?”

Top executives from Ford Motor Company answered that question today in the unveiling of the new Ford GT race car at Le Mans. Two cars will make their worldwide competition debut in the 54th Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 30-31, 2016, kicking off a full-time, two-car effort in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship GT Le Mans (GTLM) class to be fielded by Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.

“We are thrilled that Ford is bringing its iconic brand and car into the GT Le Mans class in the TUDOR Championship,” said IMSA CEO Ed Bennett. “This is a high-level, factory program that aligns perfectly with the other programs competing in GTLM, which has earned global recognition for being one of the top GT classes. These new cars will bring even more intrigue to the 2016 Rolex 24, which will be the first event for Daytona International Speedway to showcase the completed Daytona Rising project. It will be spectacular.”

Ford and Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates will be carrying some momentum into their Daytona debut with the Ford GT, as the Ganassi team’s No. 02 Ford EcoBoost/Riley DP co-driven by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stars Jamie McMurray and Kyle Larson and IndyCar stars Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan earned the overall victory in the 2015 Rolex 24 in the Prototype class. That Prototype has played an instrumental role in both the production and racing versions of the new Ford GT.

"We're very excited about being able to show our new Ford GT race car for the first time today," said Dave Pericak, director, Ford Performance. "Our participation in the IMSA TUDOR Championship the past 18 months has helped lead the way in the development of the 3.5-liter V-6 Ford EcoBoost engine that will power the new GT race car, as well as the production version of the Ford GT. We can't wait for our fans to see it when it debuts at the 2016 Rolex 24 At Daytona."

While the new race cars will make their competition debut at the Rolex 24, the general public will have their first opportunity to see the cars on the racetrack for the first time during the three-day Roar Before the Rolex 24 test at Daytona International Speedway on Jan. 8-10, 2016.

The new Ford GT program conjures up images of Ford’s historic and successful GT40 racing program from the 1960s. That era yielded overall Daytona victories in 1965 and 1966; overall victories in the Twelve Hours of Sebring in 1966, 1967 and 1969; and four consecutive 24 Hours of Le Mans victories from 1966 through 1969.

Contact:

nsiebens@imsa.com

#tusc #Ford