Ford Motor Company is set to ignite the FIA World Endurance Championship and make a spectacular return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2027, confirming its commitment to build and race an LMDh car as a full factory team. This announcement, made during Ford Performance’s ‘Season Launch’ event, marks a significant step for the American automaker into the Hypercar category of the world championship.
Ford Le Mans Hypercar anticipation representing Ford's return to top-flight endurance racing
While details about the program are still eagerly awaited, the confirmation alone has sent ripples of excitement through the motorsport world. Notably absent from the initial announcement were mentions of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, leaving enthusiasts to speculate about a potential parallel program in North America.
This factory-backed LMDh program represents Ford’s first foray into top-class prototype racing at Le Mans since the C100 Group C car in 1982. However, Ford’s engine technology has consistently played a role in the French endurance classic, powering prototypes from respected names like Riley & Scott and Panoz in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Ford’s legacy at Le Mans is etched in gold, particularly from their iconic victories between 1966 and 1969. The legendary Ford GT40 achieved four consecutive overall wins, a feat that stunned the racing world. More recently, the Ford GT program, which ran for four years in both the WEC and WeatherTech Championship, saw Ford triumph in the GTE-Pro class in 2016, marking a victorious return to the Circuit de la Sarthe. Currently, Ford continues to compete in GT3 racing with the Multimatic-built Mustang, achieving GTD Pro class honors at the recent Rolex 24 at Daytona with a factory-supported effort.
“We are embarking on a new era of performance and racing at Ford,” declared Ford Motor Company Executive Chair Bill Ford. “This is evident in our endeavors both on-road and off-road. When Ford races, we are in it to win. And no race or track resonates more deeply with our history than Le Mans. It’s the arena where we challenged Ferrari and emerged victorious in the 1960s, and where we returned 50 years later to once again shock the world and beat Ferrari. I am incredibly excited about our return to Le Mans, competing at the highest echelon of endurance racing. We are ready to challenge the world again and ‘go like hell!’”
Ford’s commitment places them as the eighth manufacturer to officially embrace the LMDh platform. They are poised to become at least the tenth OEM to join the WEC’s Hypercar class by 2027, joining a prestigious list that includes Alpine, Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Peugeot, Porsche, Toyota, and Genesis, who will enter the fray next year.
“It is truly wonderful to welcome Ford back to the pinnacle of the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time in nearly six decades,” said ACO President Pierre Fillon. “Ford is a brand deeply intertwined with the spirit of this unique race, and history has shown that Ford’s ambition is not to finish second. The prospect of a renewed rivalry with Ferrari is incredibly exciting for motorsport fans worldwide.”
WEC CEO Frederic Lequien added, “Ford has been synonymous with on-track and off-track success for decades, and we are thrilled they have chosen the FIA World Endurance Championship for their latest challenge. To have at least ten major automotive brands committed to the series’ top tier in 2027 is a powerful testament to the championship’s remarkable momentum and growth.”
