24h Le Mans
Last year, Ford Racing announced its return to the top tier of the endurance discipline. Today, the team has provided more details concerning its Hypercar programme.
Ford Racing steps up the pace in preparation for the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans and FIA World Endurance Championship. Having publicised its intentions to enter a Hypercar entry in January 2025, the American manufacturer spent a year putting together its programme, posing the technical foundations and forming a team. Now, twelve months later, the marque has revealed the scope of its campaign and the philosophy behind it.
The Ford Hypercar will be powered by a naturally-aspirated 5.4-litre ‘Coyote’ V8 engine entirely developed inhouse and based on its Dark Horse R, GT4 and GT3 powerplants. The strategy is presented as a nod to Ford’s glorious past at Le Mans, in particular the historic 1966 victory. According to the press release, the Dearborn team has been working with Red Bull Ford Powertrains to “marry high-voltage technology to raw, Detroit-born power.”
Ford has elected to use an Oreca chassis. The aim is clear: to build a Hypercar capable of winning WEC races in its first season, 24 Hours of Le Mans included.
Three drivers have already been named: Sebastian Priaulx, Mike Rockenfeller and Logan Sargeant. The first two are already members of the Ford family. In 2025 they drove the Mustang GT3 to victory in two rounds of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Former 24 Hours of Le Mans winner (in 2010 with Audi) Mike Rockenfeller brings precious experience to the campaign.
As for Logan Sargeant, with 36 Formula One races to his name, he brings technical expertise and solid experience of racing single-seaters with high downforce – a great advantage in Hypercar development. An American driver at the wheel of a Ford at Le Mans is symbolic, and reminiscent of icons Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt.
Sebastian Priaulx and Mike Rockenfeller will take part in the European Le Mans Series 2026 in LMP2. The goal is to build up a methodology, refine procedures and garner operational experience ahead of the Hypercar entry. Ford is likely to turn to Proton Competition and its Oreca 07-Gibson for support. Ford Racing’s hypercar programme manager Dan Sayers summarises the learning phase as a way of taking: “the building blocks of this programme and stress-test them under the most demanding conditions on the planet. We are building more than just a car; we are building a legacy. We are reclaiming our seat at the top table of endurance racing. We are America’s Race Team, and we are coming for the world.”
Ford Racing is well and truly on the way back to the top tier of endurance. The next stage is no doubt the unveiling of the Hypercar ahead of the first track tests this summer.
