Ford Returns to LeMans 24Hr Race in 2027

[SubLGT]

The new golden age for sports car endurance racing in WEC and IMSA continues! Another manufacturer enters the competition in the top class of "Hypercar".

https://www.motorsport.com/lemans/n...-for-outright-victory-with-lmdh-bid/10692604/

Ford will return to the Le Mans 24 Hours to fight for overall victory as a part of a World Endurance Championship campaign with an LMDh prototype in 2027. The US giant has announced that it will attempt to repeat its triumphs at the French enduro in 1966 to ’69 with the Ford MkII, MkIV and the GT40 in what will be its first full-factory attack since the C100 Group C car in 1982.

Le Mans organiser the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and the WEC welcomed the news from Ford, which means that from 2027 there will be a minimum of 10 manufacturers in Hypercar on the presumption that all the existing participants remain.

 

[fantastic]

Hope they win?

 

[97prizm]

I read that Genesis is looking to field a lmp prototype for the 24 hrs of LeMans as well.

 

[Passport1]

I think endurance sports car racing is the pinnacle of the sport. Not even F1 eclipses it. Ferrari, Aston Martin, Alpine, Porsche, Cadillac, Corvette, BMW, Mclaren, Toyota, somtimes Peugeot now Ford. They're going to Make Racing Great Again!

Ferrari

When you're racing, it's life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting.
Steve McQueen

 

[SubLGT]

I read that Genesis is looking to field a lmp prototype for the 24 hrs of LeMans as well.

I read that too.

https://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/genesis-reveals-v8-engine-plan-for-lmdh-contender/10679400/

Genesis has revealed that its 2026 World Endurance Championship contender will be powered by a twin-turbo V8 that builds on sister marque Hyundai’s experience in the World Rally Championship.

Francois-Xavier Demaison, technical director of the Hyundai Motorsport organisation masterminding the Genesis LMDh programme, explained that the internal combustion component of the hybrid powertrain was being developed out of technology employed in its inline four-cylinder 1.6-litre turbo used in the Hyundai i20 N Rally 1.

 

[Carmudgeon]

It has been about 30 years since the last "golden age" with such a level of OEM interest.

But, that always comes with the caveat that sports car racing is a volatile, cyclical sport, even for racing, and never discount the ability of the FIA or ACO to screw things up in some fashion. The current regs run through 2029, and with the newcomers, will likely be extended further, but OEMs are still free to come and go.

Lambo's LMDh effort is on life support, and Stellantis' execs have put pressure on Peugeot to get better results, so Ford's entry, along with Genesis might just keep the field at the same numbers.

Lots of talk about McLaren lately, but until they put a car on track, keep some salt on hand. But if they do, hopefully they'll take it more seriously than their GT3 program.

To its credit, BMW has stepped up its racing programs, but they can also be fickle. And when Porsche gets their 20th LM24 win, they might just decide to go out on top and make the VAG bean counters happier.

Still, it's a good time to be a sports car racing fan, so enjoy it while it lasts.