Ford to Run In-House Le Mans Team for 2027 Return
▼ Summary
– Formula 1’s popularity surge, partly due to the “Drive to Survive” effect, has also increased interest in endurance racing like Le Mans and Daytona.
– The Hypercar class in the World Endurance Championship, featuring manufacturers like Ferrari and Porsche, is a key reason for this growth in endurance racing’s popularity.
– The Hypercar class is composed of purpose-built racing prototypes, unlike the road car-derived GT3 category, and is performance-balanced to allow competition between two different rule sets.
– The class consists of cars built to two distinct technical regulations: LMH, which offers more design freedom and optional hybrid systems, and LMDh, which uses spec hybrid components and a common chassis.
– Ford has announced it will join the Hypercar class in 2027, adding to the list of manufacturers that currently includes Alpine, Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Peugeot, Porsche, and Toyota.
While Formula 1 currently enjoys immense global popularity, endurance racing is experiencing a powerful resurgence of its own. Record-breaking attendance at legendary events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans is being fueled by the intense competition in the top-tier Hypercar class. Following the successful entries of manufacturers like Ferrari and Porsche, Ford has now confirmed it will launch an in-house factory team to compete for the overall win, marking its return to the pinnacle of endurance racing in 2027.
The World Endurance Championship’s Hypercar category is already a fiercely contested battleground. Currently, eight manufacturers, Alpine, Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Peugeot, Porsche, and Toyota, are locked in competition. The grid is set to expand further, with Genesis joining next year and Ford’s highly anticipated entry scheduled for 2027. The Blue Oval has recently shared more specific details about its ambitious program, signaling a serious commitment to the sport.
For those new to the scene, the term “hypercar” in this context refers to purpose-built racing prototypes designed solely to fight for the overall victory. This contrasts with GT3 cars, which are derived from production road vehicles. To add a layer of complexity, the Hypercar class actually blends cars built to two distinct technical rulebooks. These sets of regulations, known as LMH and LMDh, are carefully balanced to ensure all competitors have an equal chance of winning, despite their different design philosophies.
The LMH route offers manufacturers greater technical freedom. A company designs the entire car from the ground up, with the option to include a hybrid system or, as in the case of the Aston Martin Valkyrie, to rely solely on a powerful internal combustion engine like a V12. The LMDh path, however, is more standardized and cost-effective. These cars must be built around a common carbon-fiber chassis supplied by one of four approved manufacturers. They also share a spec hybrid battery, electric motor, and gearbox. The competing brands then focus their engineering efforts on creating unique bodywork and developing their own internal combustion engine. The choice between these two paths represents a fundamental strategic decision for any manufacturer entering the series.
(Source: Ars Technica)
