Ford to enter WEC with Hypercar and targets Le Mans victory

Ford aims for WEC entry and Le Mans victory

In 2027, Ford Motor Company will return to the top of the WEC prototype car race, the Hypercar class. Ford Performance will run a factory team with the aim of winning the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans again. Ford has achieved this several times before: between 1966 and 1969, Ford took four consecutive victories at Le Mans. In 2016, the Ford GT won the GTLM class, and in 2024, the Ford Mustang GT3 reached the podium in the LMGT3 class. Now, the American car brand has set its sights on a victory in the Hypercar class.

"We are entering a new era for performance and racing at Ford. You can see it from what we’re doing on-road and off-road. When we race, we race to win. And there is no track or race that means more to our history than Le Mans. It is where we took on Ferrari and won in the 1960s. It is where we returned 50 years later and shocked the world and beat Ferrari again. I am thrilled that we’re going back to Le Mans and competing at the highest level of endurance racing. We are ready to once again challenge the world, and ‘go like hell!’” said Bill Ford, chairman of the board of Ford Motor Company.

Frédéric Lequien, CEO of the WEC, welcomes Ford's new participation in the championship: “Ford has been synonymous with success both on and off-track for decades, and we are delighted that the company has chosen the FIA World Endurance Championship for its latest challenge. To have at least ten major automotive brands committed to the series’ top-tier in 2027 is testament to the championship’s stellar momentum and growth."

Pierre Fillon, president of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), added: “It is wonderful news to welcome Ford back to the top level of the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time in almost 60 years. It is a brand that has always had a close affinity with this very special race, and history shows that Ford does not compete to finish second. The renewal of its famous rivalry with Ferrari is truly an exciting prospect.”

Richard Mille, chairman of the FIA Endurance Commission, also welcomes the new participation: “Ford and endurance racing are a perfect fit, as has been proven time and again. It is a brand with a long and proud motorsport heritage, and a passion for competition instilled by Henry Ford himself. The company’s return to the highest level of the discipline is further validation of the success and appeal of the current Hypercar regulations. Endurance racing’s golden age is right here, and right now!”

Collaboration with Red Bull in F1

Ford has big ambitions in motorsport, as in addition to its new Hypercar participation in the WEC - with the sole aim of winning - the US brand are also on the Formula 1 grid from 2026. The manufacturer will do so through a partnership with Red Bull Powertrains. The engine partners will build their own power unit from Red Bull's base in Milton Keynes for next year when the new regulations come into effect. Therefore, Honda will say goodbye to Red Bull next year after years of collaboration, and the Japanese manufacturer will supply Aston Martin with engines. However, they also recently admitted that this is anything but an easy task.

This article was written in collaboration with Olly Darcy

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