Phil Hill, from Ferrari to Ford... – As the first American winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1958, ’61 and ’62 in a Ferrari), Phil Hill was naturally an attractive proposition to Ford. In each of his two appearances in the GT40, Hill was partnered by a New Zealander: Bruce McLaren in 1964, and Chris Amon in 1965. Hill and McLaren overcame fuel supply and carburettor issues early in the 1964 race to move spectacularly up the field, climbing from 44th to fifth place! Unfortunately, gearbox failure put paid to their chances in the 14th hour, but not before Hill had set a new lap record (3:49.2) at an average speed of 211 kph. In 1965, Hill and Amon clinched pole position but the race itself followed a similar pattern to the previous year. Early leader Amon had to pit in the twelfth hour due to an oil leak, losing twelve laps. Hill then took to the track for a superb last stand until, once again, gearbox issues forced the #2 Ford to retire at 11 pm. The highlight of Hill’s stint was undoubtedly another new lap record (3:37.5, averaging 222 kph), lopping more than eleven seconds of his mark of the previous year! Ferrari went on to wrap up their ninth – and last to date – overall Le Mans win, with Austrian Jochen Rindt and American Masten Gregory at the wheel.

...Masten Gregory, from Ford to Ferrari! – In 1964, Gregory was one of three American drivers to take the wheel of the three Ford GT40s fielded by the American carmaker. The #11 car got off to a flying start, overtaking two Ferraris to move to the front of the field on the second lap. Swapping the race lead with their nearest rival at each refuelling stop, Gregory and fellow American Richie Ginther’s superb demonstration was unfortunately brought to an abrupt end in the fifth hour when Gregory was forced to pit with gearbox trouble. The following year, Gregory moved to the North American Racing Team (NART) set up by three-time Le Mans winner and Ferrari importer Luigi Chinetti. He was behind the wheel of the Ferrari 250LM when it crossed the finish line in first place... but refused to go any further as its differential gave up the ghost!

Dan Gurney: Ferrari, Ford and the race of the century – In ten appearances in the French endurance marathon, Gurney lined up four times in a Ferrari after being spotted by Chinetti, who gave him his Le Mans début in 1958. A patriotic American, Gurney had served in the US Army as an artillery mechanic during the Korean War (1950–53). After failing to reach the chequered flag with Chinetti’s Ferrari, Gurney’s head was unsurprisingly turned by the American carmaker’s challenge. After finishing fourth in the 1964 race in a Shelby Cobra Daytona, beating Ferrari in the GT class, he joined Ford in 1966. Teaming up with Jerry Grant in the #3 Mk II, Gurney laid down an impressive marker by clocking a record pole-winning time of 3:30.6. During the race, he also managed to clip almost seven seconds off Hill’s 1965 lap record as he scorched around the circuit at an average of 230 kph. The following year, Gurney joined forces with Texan AJ Foyt who was making his Le Mans début. After qualifying down in ninth position, they took the lead as the first pit stops were made and continued to swallow up the laps at a remarkable rate. Ferrari were convinced that such speeds would soon see the American duo out of the running. However, the #1 Ford kept up its blistering pace and when Ferrari eventually decided to step up in hot pursuit, it was too late. By the end of the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours, considered by many to be the race of the century, Gurney and Foyt had shattered the distance record, breaking through the 5000-km barrier for the first time, at an average of 218 kph.

Photo: After discovering the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Ferrari, Dan Gurney triumphed in his tenth and final appearance with Ford, along with fellow American AJ Foyt.