BETTER PARTSnostalgic edition
Cologne, June 16, 2015
After the race is before the race: There is a drumbeat of what Ford has announced as part of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2016 the Americans return to the Sarthe. Exactly five decades after the first Le Mans Triumph wants to make a splash again in the endurance classic.
Beacon for Ferrari
The mid-1960s put the Ford GT40 very successful in Le Mans a. The former CEO Henry Ford II. Wanted to prove that you could take on real sports car manufacturers such as Ferrari and Porsche. Originally, before Ford 's plan to buy the company Ferrari. But when Enzo Ferrari refused, they decided to build its own sports car, which should have the Italians in their place. The GT40 was born. In fact, the car won with seven liter V8 and up to 320 km / h top 1966-1969 four times in a row in Le Mans in 1966 even managed a triple victory.
Close to the customer
For the overall victory of the visually similar grandchildren will not, however, share a ride. The four racing versions of the new GT will compete in the so-called GTE - Pro class in which cavort near-series GT sports cars such as the Porsche 911 RSR. In simple terms it is the " third division ". But that intention because, unlike the extreme vehicles driving at Le Mans for the victory, the Ford GT is aimed at customers racing. At the same time to go in the summer of 2016, the limited edition version of the GT in the sale. She sits on a 3.5-liter V6 with two turbochargers and 600 horsepower well.
Two-time performance
The GT racing version will launch in 2016 two long-distance race series: The World Endurance Championship ( WEC ) and the American Tudor United Sportscar Championship ( USSC ). His race debut is the super sports car largely made of carbon fiber components in January 2016 and at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Race team is the US team Ganassi, who competes in the NASCAR series. The driver of the four Le Mans cars will be announced at a later date . ( rh )