24h Le Mans
Ford Racing has taken another major step in its return to the top level of endurance racing. On Monday, 17 August, the first images of its Hypercar on track were unveiled as the new American machine continues its testing programme ahead of its FIA WEC and 24 Hours of Le Mans debut in 2027.
It is a silhouette that fans have been waiting to see. After several months of development away from the spotlight, the Ford Hypercar has finally hit the track. Its testing programme began on 5 August with several days of shakedown testing, during which the team methodically checked each of the car’s systems. On Monday, 17 August, Matt Campbell and Logan Sargeant took the wheel for the first proper track tests, providing the first glimpse of Ford’s future endurance racing contender.
Before chasing outright performance, Ford Racing first had to ensure that everything was working as it should. The initial running allowed the team to check and activate all of the Hypercar’s systems. It may be an invisible stage for the wider public, but it is essential: before thinking about lap times, every component, control and interaction between the various systems must perform as planned.
This initial phase went according to Ford’s planned programme. The car is now ready to enter a new phase: track testing, where every lap brings new lessons and takes the prototype one step closer to its ultimate goal.
For this first outing, Matt Campbell and Logan Sargeant took turns behind the wheel. Tom Blomqvist, who was also present during the initial development phase, is set to join the testing programme in the coming days. The three drivers are part of the six official drivers selected by Ford for its 2027 Hypercar programme, alongside Mike Rockenfeller, Nick Yelloly and Sebastian Priaulx.
The first image of this Ford on track ultimately tells a much bigger story than that of a simple test. It marks the moment when a project becomes reality. Until now, this car could only be imagined racing through the field at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Now, it exists, it is running and it is starting to rack up the miles.
And, naturally, behind these first laps lies a story that goes far beyond the development of a prototype.
In 2027, Ford will return to the top class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, almost six decades after its last involvement at the highest level. It is a return that inevitably echoes the history of the race. In the 1960s, the Ford GT40 left an indelible mark on Le Mans by securing four consecutive victories between 1966 and 1969. In 2016, 50 years after the first of those wins, the Ford GT also triumphed in the LMGTE Pro class.
The next chapter will be different. Ford is not returning simply to make up the numbers. The American manufacturer is preparing for a genuine battle at the highest level of the FIA WEC, with the ambition of returning to Le Mans in 2027 as part of an Hypercar field that promises to be stronger than ever.
Ford’s Hypercar has only just begun its story. But since Monday, 17 August, one thing is certain: it has now left the computer screens behind and entered the real world. And it will be worth keeping an eye on it over the coming months. Because its next major appointment is already marked in bold on the calendar: the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Further images and additional information about this testing programme are expected to be released by Ford Racing next week.
